This month multi-award-winning South African singer-songwriter Bongeziwe Mabandla returns with his upbeat new single “Walila” coupled with the announcement of his upcoming SA tour.
Built around Mabandla’s signature sound, “Walila” is written with a sense of humour and theatrical storytelling. It reflects on karma and the idea that actions eventually return to us, imagining a moment when justice finally arrives. The release on 15 May arrives ahead of a major run of live dates across South Africa in May & June 2026.
“This song came to me in quite a comical way. I was playing guitar and just experimenting with different ideas. At the time, I was thinking a lot about karma and how the things we do always find their way back to us. I wanted to find a simple way to express that idea, and that’s when the phrase came to me, that someone is crying, but only crying tiny tears,” says Bongeziwe Mabandla. “Everyone has experienced some form of injustice, and this song acknowledges that feeling.”
“Walila” is the latest single from Bongeziwe Mabandla’s new album entitled “Ndingubani,” set for release 11 June 2026.
To support the new album, he’s embarking on a nationwide South African tour. The tour follows a highly successful series of sold-out concerts in Europe where he played to capacity crowds. See him live at a venue below:
- 14 May 2026 – CCFM, Maputo
- 16 May 2026 – Emperors Palace, Johannesburg
- 17 May 2026 – 012 Courtyard, Pretoria
- 22 May 2026 – The Guild Theatre, East London
- 23 May 2026 – The Music Kitchen, Gqeberha
- 24 May 2026 – Izulu Theatre, Durban
- 28 May 2026 – Drostdy Theatre, Stellenbosch
- 29 May 2026 – Hearty, Cape Town
- 4 June 2026 – IOMMA, Saint Pierre
- 5 June 2026 – Sakifo, Saint Pierre
- 13 June 2026 – Emperors Palace, Johannesburg
Over the past decade, Mabandla has become one of the defining voices of Africa’s growing Black Alternative movement, alongside artists such as Msaki and Blick Bassy, helping redefine contemporary African music. A three-time South African Music Award winner, Mabandla has also received honours from the Metro FM Music Awards and Feather Awards, while appearances on global platforms including COLORS have introduced his music to audiences around the world.
