LISWATI LEADS IN JOYOUS NEW ALBUM

MBABANE – She has done it again.Second time in a row, Eswatini-born artist Londiwe Nxumalo, who is now an official member of South African gospel music ensemble MTN Joyous Celebrations, has led a song in their upcoming 24th album.

Titled ‘Akhona Amandla’, Nxumalo led the song during the recording which was held last Saturday at The Rocklife in Sun City.
The album, which has not been officially released yet, has 24 songs.
Nxumalo confirmed this, expressing her excitement.

She said the album would be out in March next year.
When asked the motivation behind her song choice, she said it was given to her by the Lord.
“I was asked to sing and I started singing this new song on the spot and the keyboard player played along like we rehearsed.

Writing

“I can never boast about this because I know it has nothing to do with my writing skills. The Lord gave it to me,” she said.
The first song that Nxumalo led was ‘Njengendluzela’ which was in the 23rd album.

Nxumalo is the second Liswati to join the ensemble after Nomzamo ‘Zamo’ Dlamini, ‘Tinyembeti’ hit maker.
Nxumalo is originally from Hluthi in the Shiselweni region but she was residing in Hlatikhulu when she was recruited last year September.

 Headlined

The liSwati also headlined one song in the new album titled MTN Joyous Celebrations 22 and she will be performing with the crew for the first time in Eswatini on Saturday at the Mavuso Trade Centre in Manzini.
In an elaborate interview with this publication, Nxumalo confirmed that she joined the gospel ensemble in 2017 September after auditioning in Johannesburg.
“I went to the auditions with a broken ankle and I was made to audition first. On the same day at 4.30pm, I was called for round two and I was told I would receive a call if I made it through,” she said.

Weeks after the auditions MTN Joyous Celebrations pioneers Pastor Jabu Hlongwane and Boniswa Ralaure revealed the news live at her workplace.
Nxumalo confessed that she did not have a professional music career; she only sang in churches and intimate events. The only highlight in her music journey was being featured in South African gospel artist Mxolisi Mbethe’s CD in their song ‘Hosanna’.

Passion

“Being part of MTN Joyous Celebrations has musically schooled me. I had to learn many things in a short space but because of my passion for worship and music I have adapted,” she said.
This is not the first time for South African artists to rope in emaSwati in their projects.
Recently, it was revealed by Pastor Jabu Hlongwane that he roped in two emaSwati music producers, Kish and Ziyawa in his latest album titled ‘Crosspower Experience 3’.
According to Wikipedia, Joyous Celebration is a South African Gospel choir which was formed in 1994 following the success of South Africa’s first democratic elections.

\What was merely meant to be a one-time studio project by South African musicians turned into a massive platform for upcoming South African Gospel artists.
The choir has enjoyed success in South Africa and the rest of the African continent, having released 23 albums as of 2019. It is one of South Africa’s most successful gospel choirs, following acts like The Soweto Gospel Choir.
As of 2019, the choir has 33 members, including Nxumalo who sings the soprano.

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