The Soweto Central Chorus is thrilled to announce the launch of their new single Usuku Oluzayo, and new album in collaboration with the multi Grammy Award winning Legendary Ladysmith Black Mambazo.
The group will host a small number of music and media personalities to get a first glimpse of what they have been working on, happening in the afternoon of Friday, 25 October at Rockets Rooftop 86.
The event will consist of performances by Ladysmith Black Mambazo from their catalogue as well as the collaboration with Soweto Central Chorus from their upcoming album which includes the single ‘Usuku Oluzayo’ Feat Grammy Award holder Terrace Martin and producer Ndabo Zulu, which will be released the same day, October 25.
Zulu has played, recorded and toured extensively with respected artists such as Derrick Hodge (USA), Sjava, Nduduzo Makhathini, Herbie Tsoaeli, Salim Washington(USA), Ayanda Sikade, Neil Gonsalves, Mbuso Khoza, Erlend Skomsvoll (NO), Rolf Lislevand (NO/IT), Roberto Bonati (IT), Tore Johansen (NO), Arild Anderson (NO), Bugge Wesseltoft and many more. He is also a multi award winning artist namely SAMRO IAM winner 2018, Jazz i Sikte (Norway) 2016 and a recent three time SAMA winner and a Mzantsi Jazz awards winner for the debut “Queen Nandi: The Africa Symphony”.
As part of the spiritual group’s evolution, the SCC as its affectionately known has been privileged to work with some of the industry’s well known artists including the International Ladysmith Black Mambazo, a South African male choral group with its signature tune of Isicathamiya and Mbube. The group was formed in 1960 by the late Joseph Shabalala and has since won multiple awards including five grammy Awards.
The collective will also speak to their upcoming concert series that will be centred around the significance of this collaboration, 65 years of Ladysmith Black Mambazo and waiting to highlight the power and variety of African sounds.
“SCC’s mandate is to produce musical pieces that speak to the soul and build on spirituality, irrespective of the music genre. This approach is the main reason why Chorus never confines itself to working within specific or defined prescripts of demarcated music genres” said the Musical Director, Manzini Zungu.
With thirteen years since inception, SCC is a unique and musically elective ensemble, from Mofolo in Soweto. It boats over 60 members formed from a community of family members, who’s core mandate is to minister and spread the word of God through song with their albums and performances on big stages with noticeable collaborations such as the 2019 project with Samthing Soweto on the hit song Bawo, which currently sits above 8 Million view on YouTube.
The Chorus has also collaborated with industry well known artists such as Ntokozo Mbambo & Nqubeko Mbatha, Mbuso Khoza, Mmatema, Siphokazi, Betusile Mcinga, Dumi Mkokstad and most recently Khaya Mthethwa, Manu WorldStar, Thando Zide and Ndabo Zulu just to name a few.
Follow them on their social media pages under the name, ‘the Soweto Central Chorus’ to get updates. You can also stream their albums on all digital music platforms.