SINCE bursting on to the music scene almost two decades ago, female maskandi group Izingane Zoma has staked its claim in this genre and earned its stripes.

The group has impressively stoop its own the male-monopolised maskandi music scene and made a huge impression locally and internationally.

Nineteen years later the all-girl band, made up of Thandoluni Phungula and Xoli Buthelezi is still going strong and giving many male groups a serious run for their money.

Dubbed the queens of maskandi, Izingane Zoma has just dropped Umfazi Ushawa Ngani.

The album has an exciting maskandi sound that makes for compelling listening. As usual the group's lyrics are loaded with constructive advice aimed at repairing the damaged fibre of society.

Endowed with the Midas touch, all the group's albums turned gold or platinum.

And their current offering is no exception. Umfazi Ushawa Ngani has achieved gold status within months of its release.

In the album the group tackles the issue of violence, especially towards women, in a rather humorous way.

"In this album, we are celebrating women. We are saying women are the flowers of the nation. They need to be loved and cherished. We also condemn men who use women as punch bags. In African culture there is a way to punish women without using fists and a sjambok."

Without a doubt Izinange Zoma is one of the best-selling female groups in Mzansi and its mission to prove that women can do well in this genre has been achieved. Since the release of their debut album in 1993, the women have enjoyed enormous success in this male-dominated field. With their distinctive traditional sound, the group has taken maskandi to another level.

For the past six years the group has released two albums at the same time.

One album focuses on maskandi while the other is aimed at a traditional healers' audience.

Next month, the group will release its seventh traditional healers' album.