31 MARCH, JOHANNESBURG: With the success of their debut project ‘Umbayimbayi’ reaching number one on multiple charts across streaming platforms including Apple Music’s Top 25 Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban charts as well as dominating Spotify’s Made in South Africaand Bhinca Nation playlists and taking that #1 spot across Audiomack, Inkabi Zezwe announces dates of their nationwide tour bringing their much-anticipated collaboration on stage for four electric nights.
Fans will be able to see the music giants share the stage as Inkabi Zezwe shortly after their album release slated for May 2023. The tour will kick off at Sunbet Arena, Time Square on 24th June, at Grandwest Arena, Grandwest on 29th July, the Big Top Arena, Carnival City on 26th August, and will conclude at the Hollywoodbets Kings Park Stadium on3rd September. The tour is made possible by Warner Music Africa (WMA) and G Twenty One Live.
For WMA, Creative Lead Garth Brown expressed:
“Judging by their single ‘Umbayimbayi’ response, there is clearly a keen interest and appetite from Inkabi Zezwe. This is such an exciting time for the South African entertainment industry as we see two artists’ imaginations come to life. Watching them create music in Bergville and now anticipating their live shows is truly inspiring. As a team, we are honored to facilitate and support Inkabi Zezwe in their quest to advance and celebrate South African culture through music. Working with G Twenty One Live has been amazing and fans have a lot to look forward to. This is a big moment for music makers and music lovers alike.”
Director of G Twenty One Live, Glen Netshepile also adds:
“Inkabi Zezwe is a new and exciting project from the industry legends Sjava and Big Zulu, brought to you by Warner Music Africa and Talent management. G Twenty One Live is proud to be associated with this fresh-to-market collaboration and 4-city tour showcasing a new and exciting show, the likes that Sjava and Big Zulu’s fans have come to expect. With our knowledge and passion for live events, we hope to bring an authentic well-crafted show to the fans with staging, lighting, and visual elements that help support and bring the Inkabi Zezwe story to life as dynamically as possible.”
Tickets to all four shows are now available on Computicket.
Ukhamba Tour info
Pretoria
Date: 24 June 2023. 07:00 pm
Location: Sunbet Arena @ Time Square, Menlyn Maine
Tickets: R280 – R480. Click here for more info.
Cape Town
Date: 29 July 2023 07:00 pm
Location: Grand Arena, Grandwest
Tickets: R280 – R480. Click here for more info.
Johannesburg
Date: 26 August 2023 07:00 pm
Location: Carnival City, Big Top Arena
Tickets: R280 – R480. Click here for more info.
Durban
Date: 03 September 2023 05:00 pm
Location: Hollywoodbets Kings Park Stadium
Tickets: R380. Click here for more info.
ABOUT INKABI ZEZWE
Sjava, whose real name is Jabulani Hadebe was born in Bergville, KwaZulu-Natal in 1984. He began exploring music at age 10, forming his own acapella group ‘Abafana base Mpumalanga’ but his entertainment career was set in motion when he took on acting, starring in popular television shows such as Zone 14 and uGugu no Andile. His debut album Isina Muva (2016) was his major transition into the music industry and earned him ‘Best Produced Album’ awards at both the Metro FM and South African Music (SAMA) award ceremonies in 2017. That same year, Sjava won the first DStv Mzansi Viewer’s Choice Rising Star. In 2018 Sjava was featured in the Kendrick Lamar-curated and Grammy nominated Black Panther: The Album soundtrack. In the same year the superstar won a BET award for ‘Best International Act’ and released his sophomore album Umqhele which scored him ‘Best Afro-Pop Album’ and ‘Album of the Year’ wins at the 2019 SAMAs. His recent album Isibuko (2023) maintains Sjava’s dedication to highlighting the human experience with a rich, bulbous and ethereal soundscape.
Born Siyabonga Nene in Bergville, KwaZulu-Natal in 1987, Big Zulu transitioned into rap music in 2008 after a stint in the taxi industry. The rapper’s music is often filled with aspirational subject matter that his fans have long gravitated towards. He melds Maskandi and Hip-Hop with his gripping flow and cadence. Ushun Wenkabi his debut album was released in 2018 but it was Zulu’s third album Ichwane Lenyoka (2021)that helped catapult him to superstardom. The album boasted the hits ‘Mali Eningi’ featuring Ntaba Yase Dubai and Riky Rick, ‘Inhlupheko’, featuring Mduduzi Ncube and ‘Umuzi eSandton’ with Lwah Ndlunkulu. As a testament to his persistence and talent, Big Zulu has won several awards including Song of the year for ‘Mali Eningi’ and ‘Album of the Year’ at the 2021 South African Hip Hop Awards. The superstar has also won in the ‘Collaboration of the Year’ at the 27th annual SAMA awards.
As a duo, Sjava and Big Zulu make up Inkabi Zezwe, a project that celebrates the connection they have as Zulu brothers and musicians. This collaboration places them at the precipice of an interesting moment in music and culture. Their music as individual artists travel back and forth through traditional isiZulu musical forms and more contemporary musical expressions. Sjava is R&B and Afropop / Hip-Hop inclined whereas Big Zulu uses Hip-Hop / Rap to negotiate his musical identity. This ambivalence of genres is a prime opportunity to imagine and create music that is not only an autobiographical anecdote of their intimate worlds but as artists who are attentive to contemporary South Africa. Their new music explores everything that matters to them, love, intimacy, joy, aspiration, and people. Inkabi Zezwe is about community and the beauty of shared experiences.
Umbayimbayi is out now: Stream Here
Inkabi Zezwe: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | TikTok | YouTube