Edward Tsumele

Edward Tsumele

Bongani Motau has come up with a new way of extending kwaito's reach to the adult market by bringing out a new fusion album called Sigi'Ingadla.

Released last week Friday, the album incorporates kwaito beats with traditional African folklore sounds in terms of lyrical content and beat.

Featuring Afro pop guitarist Ntokozo Zungu, Kedibone Tagane on vocals and DJs Vuthela, Milandu and Vambos as mixers, Motau said this was the answer to making kwaito accessible to the adult market.

"In this album I have created a new vibe, something different, simple and original that a wide range of people can be comfortable with. Its traditional aspect is also wide as it appeals to the country's ethnic groups.

"It makes everyone feel at ease. Since I played songs from this album, people have been asking me where they can buy the album. They can buy it from their nearest CD shop," said Motau, who hails from Kwa- ggafontein in Mpumalanga. But he was born in Siyabuswa, Mpumalanga, where he grew up.

"I grew up listening to kwaito music by M'du Masilela, Arthur, Mashamplani and Joe Nina. I was later introduced to R&B, especially the music of R Kelly and Mariah Carey," he said.

Motau got into the music industry by first producing Kedibone's debut Afro pop album called Yehla Ngeboda last year. The album is doing relatively well even though it was not marketed sufficiently. Another setback for the album was that unlike now, there was no distribution company to make it available.