Sdwesheza releases new single

Nkululeko Nkalanga has released a single titled ‘Noma yini’.

The artist, popularly known as Sdwesheza, refuted naysayers who believe that kwaito is dead.

Sdwesheza has been performing the kwaito genre since 2004, when he was a member of a kwaito group called KBS.

In 2005 Sdwesheza kicked off his solo career and recorded a number of single tracks that were well-received by his fans.

He boasts an enormous knowledge of kwaito and his path has crossed with big names in the industry like jazz musician Mr Don Laka, who help him release his debut album called ‘Ezasekasi’, under Slam Records in 2006.

The former construction worker said the ‘Noma yini’ single track was inspired by township boys who strive to make ends meet, despite the challenge of unemployment.

He said these boys fix potholes in the township, wash windscreens at traffic lights and help commuters to get on and off taxis just so they can get something to eat.

He said the track is already receiving positive response from listeners.

Sdwesheza chose kwaito, despite the fact that many of his peers are immersed in hip-hop, because he believes kwaito will never die.

He shared some of the reasons why he believes kwaito will be around for some time to come.

“I must admit that kwaito went through a rough patch for quite some time but it is slowly coming back. Let’s start from the beginning, during the mid-tempo house days. It was TKZee’s time and top South African DJs changed the house game from being slow. They increased the tempo and then kwaito became house,” he said.

“Kwaito was doing well. After that, our DJs started producing their own sound, which was mainly a house sound. They started playing only house tracks during their sets. I remember back in 2002, when Mzekezeke’s Sgucangamadolo, Ndihambanawe by Mafikizolo and Balele by Kabelo were the only three kwaito tracks played by DJs during their sets.

“The rest was house and that was when I knew DJs were dragging kwaito down. Some SA house-producing DJs tried to merge house and kwaito.”

According to Sdwesheza, this is when the sounds of Big Nuz and Elvovo dirango were born.

Due to a shortage of kwaito, new DJ trends were introduced to the kasi through social media, schools and mainstream media.

“As a result, hip-hop took over because people on the television and radio spoke English well. Presenters had to be fluent in the English language. That is something you don’t easily get from a person who grew up eKasi. Many people have not gone on to study at Es’lungwini (English schools).”

“The United States hip-hop stars we saw on our screens every day were therefore making huge royalties from South African airplay, more than what South African musicians made in South Africa. Kwaito-loving artist migrated to hip-hop and it started with the likes of Amu, H2O and Skwatta Camp, who offered hip-hop which had a kasi influence. Kwaito artists supported those initiators because they could now relate to the slang in the rap,” he said.

“It became even tougher for kwaito artist to survive in the South African music industry and the genre suffered. The SA music industry as a whole also suffered.

“CD sales went down drastically as people were then exposed to computers. People could download the music and listen to it without buying it.

“Thanks to people like KO for keeping SA hip-hop going, through the rough times to where it is today. SA musicians are still not making a lot of money through sales but there are other means that can be used to generate money, like bookings and endorsements.”

“The reason I say kwaito will never die is because most of the successful SA hip-hop genre was born from kwaito. Many most hip-hop songs are sampled tracks from kwaito. The only difference is the beat,”

Sdwesheza is confident there is a demand for the genre.

“That’s why artists like me are delivering to fill that gap. NomaYini, my kwaito single released in 2016, is going to be big. I can safely say that in South Africa, if one makes good music, it can be successful.”