Durban Media House and Africori Music Group have announced Digital Maskandi Vol. 1, a first-of-its-kind unity project bringing together Maskandi legends, established stars and emerging voices from across South Africa to explore where one of the country’s most deeply rooted musical traditions can go next.
Built around collaboration, cultural pride and musical progression, the forthcoming compilation connects Maskandi with hip-hop, pop, Xigaza, Afro-soul, folk and other contemporary sounds without losing sight of the guitar, lyricism and storytelling at the genre’s core. Each collaboration draws from a different part of South Africa’s musical identity, creating new connections between regions, genres and generations while introducing Maskandi to new audiences.
The ambition is to respect the foundations, then see where they can go.
Across Digital Maskandi Vol. 1, established artists share space with younger voices, regional sounds meet national influences and traditional storytelling moves through modern production without losing its identity. The result is a bold statement of unity, culture and the future of African music, rooted in the idea that progression and preservation do not have to exist at opposite ends of the spectrum.
The idea for Digital Maskandi Vol. 1 was developed by Ntuthuko Mtshali, growing out of years spent working closely with the Maskandi community and creating platforms for its artists.
Over the past five years, Mtshali’s work within the culture has contributed to three South African Music Awards, including two Record of the Year wins and one Music Video of the Year award. That journey planted the seed for a project with a bigger ambition: to bring Maskandi into creative conversation with artists and musical communities from across the country on a scale not previously attempted.
The full compilation brings together respected Maskandi names including Mzukulu, Dr Buselaphi, Saliwa, Jaiva Zimnike and Menzi, whose experience and connection to the culture anchor the project.
Alongside them, Sjava brings his distinctive meeting point of African soul, hip-hop and indigenous storytelling, while Blxckie adds the pulse and attitude of contemporary South African hip-hop. Lowfeye of The Qwellers represents an emerging generation shaped by internet culture, street influence and an increasingly fluid relationship with genre.
Artists from different parts of South Africa bring their own languages, rhythms and musical histories into the compilation, allowing those differences to become a source of connection rather than division.
The first expression of that vision arrives this Friday, 11 September, with “Too Much,” bringing together newly crowned SAMA Best Male Artist of the Year Mzukulu and South African hip-hop star Blxckie.
