Celebrate music collaborations, says researcher
The synergy between the late Busi Mhlongo's powerful vocal delivery and Themba Ncama's evocative songwriting served as a classic example of artistic collaboration that transcends time.
Songwriter and guitarist Themba Ncama’s work invites people to understand the legacy of collaboration in music and to recognise the importance of all contributors to significant artistic movements.
This was a sentiment shared by researcher Ncebakazi Manzi when speaking to Ncama at the South Coast Art Business Incubator in Margate last week.
Manzi said she was interested in the history of the Urban Zulu album by the late Busi Mhlongo and how Ncama wrote some of the music.
“His name is not emphasised in the making of the album, and I would love to include the full story in the piece I am working on. Busi Mhlongo was known as one of the pioneering voices of urban Zulu music and rose to prominence largely due to the Urban Zulu album. This album not only showcased her extraordinary talent but also solidified the position of urban Zulu as a significant genre within the broader landscape of South African music,” she said.
She added that the synergy between Mhlongo’s powerful vocal delivery and Ncama’s evocative songwriting served as a classic example of artistic collaboration that transcends time.
Manzi said Ncama’s songwriting, which articulated the experiences and aspirations of urban Zulu life, deserved not only acknowledgment but celebration.
She added that the songwriter’s repertoire includes a wealth of compositions that extend far beyond the Urban Zulu album, reflecting the deeply woven connections between history and contemporary expression in South Africa.
“The story of Themba Ncama and the Urban Zulu album is a profound reminder of the hidden histories that often go unnoticed,” said Manzi.
Meanwhile, Ncama said as urban Zulu music continues to evolve, researchers like Manzi are bringing to light the essential narratives that have shaped its current form.
“With a comprehensive analysis that includes interviews, historical research, and context, scholars can contribute significantly to the discourse around South African music, exploring the inter-relation between artists, genres, and the socio-political landscape of their times,” he said.
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