Acolly Mandiza gives praise where due

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Musician Acolly Mandiza has been closely observing and following every step of Thovhele Gole Mphaphuli, the leader of the Mphaphuli Dynasty, for a long time now. Impressed by his actions, Acolly decided to write a song dedicated to the traditional leader, praising him and letting him know that his quality leadership had not gone unnoticed. The single, titled “Thovhele Musiiwa Gole Mphaphuli,” was released on Monday, 22 January.

According to Acolly, a tendency in communities is to only speak well of people after they have passed away, which he finds regrettable. “It is crucial for us as young people to look up to our leaders and praise them while they are still alive and with us. They must know that we trust them, that we see what they are doing, and that we are proud of their work. This is not my first song praising a good leader. I have composed songs about leaders like Collen Mashawana, Rudzani Mudogwa, and Mashudu Rampfumbedzani, among others,” he said.

The single is a collaboration with other key stakeholders. “In this one, I worked with Vhamusanda Vhontikedzeni Mphaphuli of Hamuraga village, who is also one of the most respected traditional leaders under Thovhele Gole Mphaphuli. He assisted me in putting the right words together and arranging them perfectly. I also worked with Fizzy Toofab, who did the graphic design. I produced and engineered the song. But this is not the end of it. I will be singing about many more people who are making an impact in their society,” said Acolly.

“Thovhele Musiiwa Gole Mphaphuli” was recorded at Muimeleli Entertainment Studio, founded by Acolly and his father, veteran Tshivenda musician Elvis Mandiza.

The single is available on all digital platforms, including Deezer, Spotify, iTunes, and YouTube. Follow Acolly on Facebook and other social media platforms (Acolly Mandiza).

By: Elmon Tshikhudo

Elmon Tshikhudo started off as a photographer. He developed an interest in writing and started submitting articles to local as well as national publications. He became part of the Limpopo Mirror family in 2005 and was a permanent part of the news team until 2019.