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From disco to jazz

EVERYTHING goes with age, says Shangaan disco king Eric "Penny Penny" Nkovani, who has released his first jazz album,Mhani wa nkoka.

Having been in the music industry for 17 years, the popular disco musician has just released his 31st album.

"I saw another chance of feeding my fans good music . I am not getting any younger, but before I slow down I have promised my fans that I still have more than 40 years to feed them music," Nkovani laughed.

Albums such asShaka Bundu, Yogo Yogo, Laphinda I Shangaan and Bhola introduced Papa Penny to the music industry.

The new offering, Mhani wa Nkoka is sung in Xitsonga and in English.

This album includes songs such as Rirhandzu, Nkhondo and Boer is boer .

Nkovani says this album has a spiritual message and is soothing.

Nkovani said that the tune and his musical image might change, but his 6000-watt voice and dance was still the same.

Nkovani, who hails from Nkurhi Sifa Sonke village outside Giyani in Limpopo, said he was very proud of his music and promised to continue making music for many more years.

"I will continue giving you music until you dig my grave.

"This is a great talent given to me by God and no one can ever challenge me because that is God's choice," Nkovani said.

He said that his music was selling like hot cakes, but unfortunately piracy was scooping the platinum . He said people should stop buying pirated CDs because piracy was killing many musicians in the industry.

"Sometimes you will hear my music in all the provinces and even in deep rural villages and think 'Penny Penny has sold hundreds of CDs'. But on further investigation you will find that I sold only five CDs and the rest of them are pirate copies.

"So, please stop killing us musicians slowly because we are trying our best to put bread on the table for our families," Nkovani pleaded.