They may have taken a little break from singing due to the Covid-19 lockdown, but their return to the studio and the mic means their followers and fans are in for an incredible treat.
Homegrown musicians, Sindile Godongwana, Lumkile Ngcongo, Petros Silwane, Sthembiso Soboyisi and Kholekile Qongqo teamed up and returned to the music fold with a new single of hope amidst the current pandemic.
The artists introduced the single (Yiva Nkosi) Isikhalo Sethu on Saturday in the studio where they were finishing the second song.
The track Isikhalo Sethu is an appeal to God to hear the world’s cry. It is spiritual and with soulful melody.
The five are all local established musicians with good track records in the industry.
The group’s musical director, Petros Silwana said the world has been held to ransom by the pandemic and with the Western Cape continuously recording more Covid-19 deaths, and cases, something had to be done.
He decided to think deep and see who he could work with to send a message to God and to people of the world to comply with rules and regulations. “The idea was to send a message to the Almighty to save us from the cruelty of this pandemic. We collaborated because, one, we are all veterans in this industry, and two, we are trusted men of God. We felt speaking to God and appealing to him would be a good idea. But also giving hope to the helpless people who are losing that hope. But we are saying to them, there is God to speak to,” he said.
A member of the group, Kholekile Qongqo, said they also wanted to show young and upcoming artists that unity is power. He said they should stand up during this period and be counted to share messages of power and strength to the community.
“This is exciting to collaborate with great musicians of our province to give a message of hope. We are in this together. Therefore we have a responsibility to inspire during this period. As gospel artists it is again our responsibility to give a glimpse of hope and also to appeal to God to heal us all. We have hope that our prayers are going to be heard,” he said.
Lumkile Ngcongo added that the world may be facing many challenges but there is God to speak to. “Of course, we’re super excited with the project.
“We really also appeal to communities to adhere to the rules during this unprecedented time. We are crying to God to help us but we also have a responsibility to listen and assist our health workers and all the frontliners of this pandemic. But God is listening and is looking down on us. He will do something. Soon the pandemic will vanish,” he told Vukani.
The single should be dropping in mid-June.