Entertainment / Music
Izwi Lesiphelo to release fourth album
05 Aug 2016 at 09:23hrs | Views
JOHANNESBURG - Fast-rising Zimbabwean gospel music group, Izwi Lesiphelo, will later this month release its fourth album, which marks the group's five years in the music industry.
Titled "Siyabonga", the 16-track album is the Johannesburg-based group's resounding tribute to God and the fans, who have supported the group since it was formed in August 2011.
Wholly made up of members of the Twelve Apostles Church, the group has enjoyed success since the release of its debut album, "Kuyosulwa Inyembezi" in March 2012. So successful was the album that just two weeks after its release, the group was invited to perform in a filled-up venue in Johannesburg, sharing the stage with Dereck Ndzimande and Amos Mphahlele – both big names in South African gospel music.
The album also enjoyed airplay in such radio stations as South Africa's Rainbow FM, internet broadcaster VisionsFM and the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation's Radio Zimbabwe.
In 2013, they returned with a second offering titled, "Ngale Kwelanga", and in 2014 with "Ngenzintando kaBaba", both of which also did well on the market and surpassed the first, seeing the group grace the pages of a number of South African newspapers, including the highest-selling daily – the Daily Sun.
Ngenzintando kaBaba is currently enjoying airplay on the ZBC's National FM, with especially the track "Yona Na Yo" proving to be a fan favourite.
Group co-leaders, Caroline Ncube and Promise Mhlanga, hoped their upcoming album would break new ground for the group that has also shared the stage with such gospel greats as Shongwe and Khuphuka Saved Group, Sthembiso Phungula, Pure Gold and Bonakele.
"By God's grace, all our albums have been well-received on the market and that is why we have decided to title our forthcoming release ‘Siyabonga' because it is a two-pronged thank you – to the Almighty God and the fans," said Caroline Ncube.
"It is so unfortunate that our music has not been available back home in Zimbabwe, where our biggest support has come from but we hope to plug that gap within the next few weeks because of the great demand we have received from there.
"Since our music was played on the radio, especially on National FM, we have received great demand for it and we have decided to increase our presence in our home country. We are proud members of the Twelve Apostles Church and will do everything to satisfy the demand for our church's kind of music, while also striving to satisfy other gospel music lovers' tastes at the same time," added the Lupane-born singer. Promise Mhlanga broke another set of good news for the group's followers when he revealed that the new album would be released with four videos for some of the group's songs, including the popular "Yona Na Yo".
"The fans have given us so much support that we cannot afford to sit on our laurels anymore, so we will do all in our power to make sure that our fan base grows and our presence is felt in the industry," said Mhlanga, who is originally from Nkayi.
"The four tracks will be promotional, but we will be releasing our full DVD before the end of the year and it will include mostly our most-popular songs from the first three albums. I can only promise great things for our fans on the new album. I believe it is the best we have ever done so far and I'm glad that each of our new albums is better than the one before it. That shows our growth in music. We hope to hold our first show in Zimbabwe soon and details will be made available once plans have been finalised. For now, we will concentrate on making our music available in all corners of the country."
Izwi Lesiphelo, who are also available on Facebook under the same name, are among the headline acts set to belt out their stuff at the Hillbrow Theatre this coming Saturday, in the fifth edition of Bayethe Women's Day Festival.
They will share the stage with maskandi groups that include the award-winning Zinjaziyamluma, Amachwane Amahle, Insukamini, Amabhukudwana and Inkunzi Zomanzamnyama; fellow gospel groups like Ben Masuku, Sisters of Paradise, The Nations, The Chosen Brothers, Umkhumbi ka Noah and Givemore, Isicathamiya groups like Satma nominees Inkanyezi Zezulu and Amabhubesi as well as poets like the popular Bongani Ncube and Gugulethu Clerence Ndlovu.
This year's show, slated for 12-8pm, will see entry fees slashed from last year's R100 per adult and R50 for a child to just R40 per adult and R20 per child to accommodate more fans.
Titled "Siyabonga", the 16-track album is the Johannesburg-based group's resounding tribute to God and the fans, who have supported the group since it was formed in August 2011.
Wholly made up of members of the Twelve Apostles Church, the group has enjoyed success since the release of its debut album, "Kuyosulwa Inyembezi" in March 2012. So successful was the album that just two weeks after its release, the group was invited to perform in a filled-up venue in Johannesburg, sharing the stage with Dereck Ndzimande and Amos Mphahlele – both big names in South African gospel music.
The album also enjoyed airplay in such radio stations as South Africa's Rainbow FM, internet broadcaster VisionsFM and the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation's Radio Zimbabwe.
In 2013, they returned with a second offering titled, "Ngale Kwelanga", and in 2014 with "Ngenzintando kaBaba", both of which also did well on the market and surpassed the first, seeing the group grace the pages of a number of South African newspapers, including the highest-selling daily – the Daily Sun.
Ngenzintando kaBaba is currently enjoying airplay on the ZBC's National FM, with especially the track "Yona Na Yo" proving to be a fan favourite.
Group co-leaders, Caroline Ncube and Promise Mhlanga, hoped their upcoming album would break new ground for the group that has also shared the stage with such gospel greats as Shongwe and Khuphuka Saved Group, Sthembiso Phungula, Pure Gold and Bonakele.
"By God's grace, all our albums have been well-received on the market and that is why we have decided to title our forthcoming release ‘Siyabonga' because it is a two-pronged thank you – to the Almighty God and the fans," said Caroline Ncube.
"It is so unfortunate that our music has not been available back home in Zimbabwe, where our biggest support has come from but we hope to plug that gap within the next few weeks because of the great demand we have received from there.
"Since our music was played on the radio, especially on National FM, we have received great demand for it and we have decided to increase our presence in our home country. We are proud members of the Twelve Apostles Church and will do everything to satisfy the demand for our church's kind of music, while also striving to satisfy other gospel music lovers' tastes at the same time," added the Lupane-born singer. Promise Mhlanga broke another set of good news for the group's followers when he revealed that the new album would be released with four videos for some of the group's songs, including the popular "Yona Na Yo".
"The fans have given us so much support that we cannot afford to sit on our laurels anymore, so we will do all in our power to make sure that our fan base grows and our presence is felt in the industry," said Mhlanga, who is originally from Nkayi.
"The four tracks will be promotional, but we will be releasing our full DVD before the end of the year and it will include mostly our most-popular songs from the first three albums. I can only promise great things for our fans on the new album. I believe it is the best we have ever done so far and I'm glad that each of our new albums is better than the one before it. That shows our growth in music. We hope to hold our first show in Zimbabwe soon and details will be made available once plans have been finalised. For now, we will concentrate on making our music available in all corners of the country."
Izwi Lesiphelo, who are also available on Facebook under the same name, are among the headline acts set to belt out their stuff at the Hillbrow Theatre this coming Saturday, in the fifth edition of Bayethe Women's Day Festival.
They will share the stage with maskandi groups that include the award-winning Zinjaziyamluma, Amachwane Amahle, Insukamini, Amabhukudwana and Inkunzi Zomanzamnyama; fellow gospel groups like Ben Masuku, Sisters of Paradise, The Nations, The Chosen Brothers, Umkhumbi ka Noah and Givemore, Isicathamiya groups like Satma nominees Inkanyezi Zezulu and Amabhubesi as well as poets like the popular Bongani Ncube and Gugulethu Clerence Ndlovu.
This year's show, slated for 12-8pm, will see entry fees slashed from last year's R100 per adult and R50 for a child to just R40 per adult and R20 per child to accommodate more fans.
Source - Byo24News
