BONGEZIWE MABANDLA
Across the pond and over into the motherland, South African singer Bongenziwe Mabandla is breaking down barriers within the music industry. He sings in his native tongue Xhosa and, according to a review from Radio France Internationale, it “carries messages of heartache and healing from the Eastern Cape and yet captures the contemporary urban-African landscape.” Whether listeners understand Xhosa or not, Mabandla’s gift transcends language and communicates universal feeling and healing. Mabandla is a two-time South African Music Awards winner and this year, the artist released his latest album Amaxesha. Check out his music and thank us later. —G.E.