A guitar and her voice is all she needs
"I WANT to put Giyani on the map!" This is the bold declaration of singer and guitarist, Hlamalani Maluleke
Ntsako Mabunda
LIMPOPO – “I WANT to put Giyani on the map!”
This is the bold declaration of singer and guitarist, Hlamalani Maluleke, who was born in Letaba, Tzaneen, but grew up in Giyani.
Hlamalani, which means ‘be amazed’ was given the name by her grandmother, who was amazed by the loud non-stop cries of the little girl, and she has been using her voice to amaze people ever since.
Like many other singers, she discovered her talent while she sang at school and in church choirs.
Hlamalani’s life changed when Zahara came onto the music scene. Never before had a singer who was both a vocalist and guitarist captivated her so much. Her interest was cemented when she met two men from her neighbourhood, Cowboy and David, whose own guitar skills impressed her. They taught Hlamalani how to play the guitar and she soon bought her own. “I found it challenging at first, but I took my lessons seriously and always practised at home. I eventually got it right,” she says.
Going around town with a guitar, Hlamalani had people curious whether she could really play it. They’d ask her to prove it to them. Seeing crowds gathering around her reinforced the fact that perhaps she really did have talent. She got so hooked to that feeling that she would give spontaneous performances while awaiting her order in fast food restaurants and anywhere around town.
Her sound, which she calls ‘Xitsonga afro-pop’, as well as her funky style prompted fans to call her ‘Zahara’. While the comparison is flattering, Hlamalani is quick to point out that she is Hlamalani, her own person, who wants to get her own name out there. Though she’s still finalising her debut album, which will be released before August, her singles are played on radio stations, particularly A wa ha ni Rhandzi (Nkatanga), which was inspired by a guy who she caught with a friend of hers.
The trained paramedic may never have used her qualification to help others, but she has since used her voice to heal her broken heart, and the hearts of those she comes across or who listens to her soulful music.
