A SONG TO UPLIFT PEOPLE
Letoya Makhene has released her version of ‘Ngihawukele’ to help people battle through their darkest hours
IT IS a song that uplifts many people in their darkest hours.
For Letoya Makhene, releasing a rendition of Ngihawukele is a reminder of the journey she has been through.
“The song means ‘have mercy on me’. It is speaking to the universe, to the ancestors, to God. It is the one song that has carried me through my journey from initiation school, at the age of 18 ,and it has been the one song that has been a constant in my life – no matter what I was going through.
“It doesn’t only uplift me but other initiates, it does this to everyone who has ever heard the song.”
For her rendition of the song, Makhene has worked with her father, Blondie Makhene, and added some additional verses to the song.
It’s an age-old song that has been sung by Africans, so it is bound to touch people once they hear it. Everyone will recognise it, it just has not been done like this before.”
Before this, her last music release was in August last year, with the single, Qinisela.
“This is the second single for me as a solo artist and I am really excited.”
While her singles are working towards a full album, she is in no rush to present one just yet.
“That album is going to come as a gift and it is going to be packaged so beautifully, and will be filled with songs that people know and recognise, as they hear me drop singles and bonus tracks they have never heard.”
For the time being, she is letting her creative process take over.
“This song is something that has been coming long before lockdown. I have been working on this track for a few months. I have been in the studio marinating it and working with my dad.
“Prior to lockdown, we knew the release was going to be around this Easter time because it is a spiritually uplifting song, so it felt like the Easter period would have been a perfect time to release the song, then lockdown happened.”
Makhene and her team had moments where they thought to postpone the release date.
“Everything fell into place and the release date was still perfect, especially for what we are going through. Our country is on its knees, our people are depressed, this lockdown is affecting people in such horrible ways, more horrible than you can imagine. It felt right to release. We are screaming for a song like Ngihawukele to give everyone comfort in knowing that you are not alone. We are okay. The universe is watching over us, there is some higher power that is with us. As hard as the time is right now, it is for us to take deep breaths and to get through it – one moment at a time.
“It is time to pray and be close to our God. To know yourself and find yourself within this space,” she said. “It is a deeply spiritual time right now. Nature has literally forced us to stop, slow down so that it can take this time to rejuvenate itself. Hopefully, we will grow as well.”
Makhene has not closed the door on acting, she is taking a much-needed break.
“I needed to press the reset button and take a moment to breathe. I was suffering from actor’s fatigue and wanted to focus on my music. Acting is hectic and a full-time job, and I could only slot my music into the acting. I’ll have a few surprises around the corner, sooner than you think,” she said.