Sikheli releases third studio album

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     Music

The winner of a South African Traditional Music Award, Sikheli Junior, is back with his third album, entitled Malovhele.

Born Musiwalo Nengudza from Mangondi, Junior told Limpopo Mirror that he had written and composed all the songs on his new album.

“We have scheduled to launch Malovhele in September this year,” he said.

Released under the banner of Dumbula Productions, the album includes songs such as Malovhele, Vhana vha Eli, Vulani mato, Vhana vha zwino, Phadi, Muthu ndi muya and Vho-Tshishonga.

His thrilling voice and guitar playing still create his unique sound. “I love what I do,” he said. “What I like about my music is that all my songs carry powerful messages that my fans can easily relate to,” Sikheli Junior said.

Hit songs from his previous album are Ladzani Shango and Nwali O Sinyuwa and still receive regular airplay on Phalaphala FM, Univen FM, Munghana Lonene, Thobela FM and Makhado FM. Sikheli said he wanted to preserve the Tshivenda culture through his music. He also said he was concerned about poor marketing and distribution of Tshivenda music in general. “As the chairperson of the Vhembe-based artists’ organisation, Vhembe Music Association (VMA), I would like to make sure Tshivenda music is well known and accessible to our fans,” he said.

He stated that Malovhele was different from his previous albums because it had more commercial appeal. “I would like to thank Pat Matsila and Masala Tshinganda for their contribution in the production of the album,” he said. “I also worked with talented artists such as Jininka and Abby Chinada. In future, I would also like to feature popular artist Tshidino Ndou of Munwe na munwe u na zwine a tenda khazwo fame.”

Those who would like to order Sikheli Junior’s music can contact him at 079 486 3179.

By: Tshifhiwa Mukwevho

Tshifhiwa Given Mukwevho was born in 1984 in Madombidzha village, not far from Louis Trichardt in the Limpopo Province. After submitting articles for roughly a year for Limpopo Mirror's youth supplement, Makoya, he started writing for the main newspaper. He is a prolific writer who published his first book, titled A Traumatic Revenge in 2011. It focusses on life on the street and how to survive amidst poverty. His second book titled The Violent Gestures of Life was published in 2014.