Urban traditional duo to release new single online
Port Elizabeth urban traditional music band Ikati Esengxoweni will today virtually engage fans on their latest single, Cradle of Humankind, ahead of its release.
The single is a glimpse into what the duo’s debut EP of the same name will be.
The full six-track project was due for release early next year, the duo said.
One half of the duo, Anam Manyati, said the song was created earlier this year, before the lockdown during a time when their souls needed hope.
“Akhonto inonqanda into edaliweyo (nothing can stop that which is meant to be) is the power of our creator.
“As humankind, we should always strive to evolve and conquer. This is what we were inspired by.
“We were in a space where we knew we had to feed our soul with hope, and hope to us is music. That’s what heals,” Manyati said.
Old and new fans will get to know more about Ikati Esengxoweni and the duo’s music during the engagement session on Instagram Live this evening.
“On Friday we will go live on Instagram to talk about the band, what inspires us, hardships, what to look forward to, have a Q and A and promote the single,” band member Lark Wantu said.
The session will be on the duo ’ s Instagram page @ikati_esengxoweni from 5pm.
We are anxious, as well as excited and extremely proud to finally release our work,” Wantu said.
Speaking to The Herald about the EP in June, the duo said the project would introduce a new sound different from anything they had showcased to audiences before.
The EP is a compilation of new songs, some of which they have performed and others that have never been heard before.
These include Ting Ting, a single they recorded for the soundtrack of SA prison drama series Lockdown , and
Ookhokho Bethu, which was featured on the Showmax film
Loving Thokoza.
The EP is produced by Steve Dyer, Kurt Slabbert and Anda Macuba.
Cradle of Humankind, the single, will be available on digital music platforms.
“The content will also soon be available as a CallerTune, as well as on Huawei Music, MTN Music Time, Vodacom MyMuse and JOOX,” Manyati said.