Years have gone past, but the Soul remains…
The odyssey of the Soul Brothers seems to be nowhere near ending after many years of globetrotting, dominating the South African music scene and preaching the gospel of love, peace, and harmony in the world.
The Soul Brothers are known for quenching the thirsts of their supporters annually with hot albums, scooping bestselling albums awards at the competitive SAMA Awards, and giving steamy stage performances.
All this earned them the crown of Kings of Mbhaqanga. This year this mighty group has again put together a bomb blaster entitled Hamba Naye which is set to be released in the first week of December 2023 by their long-time recording label Gallo Record Company. It will be launched officially for the first time at the Moonnight Bar in Doornfontein, Johannesburg on 9 December 2023.
Background:
Hamba Naye is the third album to be released by the Soul Brothers under auspices of the only surviving founder member, Black Moses Ngwenya since the passing of David Masondo – a terrific dancer and vocalist, in 2015.
In 2017 they released Uphelile Umndeni Wami in remembrance of their fallen members all ofwhom died proud members of the glorious group. A sequel of that album Iqiniso was released during the Covid19 pandemonium that invaded the whole world.
Following five decades of preaching the gospel of unity, peace and love, Black Moses Ngwenya and the SoulBrothers do not seem ready to retire anytime soon. They still look energetic, fit, strong, and full of panache. Seeing how gracefully Black Moses has aged, it is unbelievable that he has been in the industry for fifty years. Hamba Naye is testimony to the popular adage that wine gets better with age. In the album, Black Moses gave his all on the keys bringing back some of the old sounds that will take you down memory lane to those beautiful but tough years of apartheid in the 70s and 80s.
Listening to tracks like Hamba Naye, Ubuya Nini and Utshwala, and Ukhuluma Kanjani?, to mention just a few, one can feel the spirit of David Masondo, Zenzele Mchunu, American Zulu, and Tuza Mthethwa, hovering above with dazzling smiles in their faces.
Hamba Naye further proves that the Soul Brothers are custodians and pioneers of Mbhaqanga music- a fusion of ethnic soul and traditional rhythms. The rhythms, guitars, and voices still sound new and with much improvement from its predecessors. As the hallmark of the band’s rhythms, Black Moses’s Hammond organ soothes the soul with those unremitting riffs and squeaking melodies that brings an equanimous sensation.
The Soul Brothers need no introduction as they have been in the music scene for the past 48 years. They started off as Young Brothers and later turned to be SoulBrothers following their chance meeting at Gallo Record Company in 1975. Through their soulful vocals, dance moves, and stage attire, they brought in an unprecedented style that revolutionised mbhaqanga music to be what it is today. Despite all the successes that have been embellished by numerous accolades, their journey has been marked by many tragedies of losing members through motor vehicle accidents. Their original lead guitarist Tuza Mthethwa was killed in a car tragedy in 1979 and the same happened to Zenzele Mchunu who was played bass. While American was shot dead by an unknown man ten years after leaving the band, David Masondo succumbed to a short illness at age 65. Although the death of David felt like a last stroke for the band, Black Moses felt there is no looking back