I rushed back home to get myself ready for the experience. I picked an outfit that let me wear my Xhosa beads. It’s been a while. The GPS somehow confused my location so I was late but I was glad to have seats at the front this time. The show was at the Durban Playhouse in Town. It was full ! On all the levels.
Thandiswa has just dropped her new album Sankofa and this tour is in promotion of her new work. The album is gorgeous, layered with many conversations on the political state of the nation, spirituality, ancestors and the black experience in general. I love the melody’s and production. You just have to listen to it. Dogon is my favourite, and Sabela.
So I entered the hall, and she was in this beautiful red dress already deep in the music. I had so much fun listening to her beautiful voice, it’s so crisp, mature and clean. She also has this deep voice as if she’s summoning higher energies. She ululates flawlessly. She gave us a blend of older music and her new songs. It was such a party.
She spoke about healing the wounds of the inner child and dedicated a song to that. This is something we hardly discuss in our community. How what happened to you influences so much of who you become. Healing those wounds is liberating.
Thandiswa also spoke about the Xhosa’s in the room and I realized there was a few girls next to me dressed in Xhosa dresses. She also had beaded stage dancers who were draped in Xhosa beads that occasionally came to dance in between sets. It became a beautiful celebration of the culture in the heart of Zululand.
I sang along to every song and marveled at the energy, presentation and intention behind each song. I forgot where I was and vibed with the crowd because she had us on our feet. I felt I was having a once in a lifetime experience but I might just go to Cape Town to take in all that black girl magic again.
She’s just in herself, you can tell she’s having a genuine human experience and she’s lived through all the work she delivers. All the little girls in me were so excited. Oh I want to do it again ! I must.
