Ten spiritual albums worth celebrating

Saturday May 2, will be a big day at Divine Ministries Hall in Manzini when local  award winning gospel group Ncandweni Christ Ambassadors will not only launch their 10th album, but also the many awards they’ve won, thereby putting the country on the map.

 Off course the achievements of the group deserve to be celebrated, especially because one need not forget that the group has been through many storms.

Who can forget the scandals that rocked the country’s national newspapers? One will remember Khayalethu Masuku who was once charged and convicted of drink driving and further suspended by the group.  And who can forget that Mzwakhe was once implicated for not paying the people he employed in his security company? The list in endless, but what is good is the fact that the group soldiered on.
It’s no wonder that through perseverance, it has managed to put the country on the map in as far as Gospel music is concerned.

The group has won numerous awards in South Africa and these include the SAMAs, The SABC Crown Gospel Awards and The One Gospel Awards. As we speak, it is also amongst the more than 50 musicians and groups that have been nominated in the 14th Annual South African Music Awards and ironically, they will be held on the very same day of the celebration.
This means that instead of attending the awards, the group has decided to honour its local followers and Christians at large.

In an interview with Nosipho Mtyobile, the gospel outfit’s Marketing Manager in their NCA Music office in South Africa, she said the event is was about worshipping the Lord in truth and in Spirit with the group.
“I can just invite Swazi Gospel lovers to make sure that they attend the event because their souls will be revived and lifted on that ,” she said to STYLE.

A History of Ncandweni’s Musical journey

The group started in the 1990’s with family members headed by the eldest son, Timothy.
He and younger brother Mzwakhe together with their sister Thabile started their journey by singing at funerals, weddings and church services then they were known as Ncandweni Trio. as time went on, they saw the need of adding more family members and changed the name to Ncandweni Christ Ambassadors.

It was in 1998 when they started recording and then release their first release entitled ‘Isimemo sikajehova’. This album did wonders for the group with the hit song that went so popular ‘Timothy.’ It sold a whopping 15 000 copies which is unusual for a first release and a new group.
‘Ngizobambelela’ was their second release in 1999 by now the group was known in South Africa following their previous release which paved the way for them in the gospel music. Judging by their sales, the group grew from strength to strength.

 In 2001, they followed with  another hit titled ‘Umoya wenkosi’ which is an example of a composition taken from the word of God and the miracle about the dry bones in the book of Isaiah 37, people responded very positively to these kind the messages carried in the songs with the result of sales exceeding 30 000 units.
Even though the group was well known in the country, other neighbouring countries knew little about them until they joined hands with Sipho ‘Big Fish’ Makhabane of Amanxusa Music Productions who introduced them to the South African market by marketing and distributing them under his label.
‘Inkanyezi Emhlophe’ followed  in 2002 and with it they  took the market by storm once again with the hit songs ‘Ungabi yisivuvu’ and ‘Baleka Josefa’ .

“Bakhiphe Moses” was yet another hit which was released in 2003. The main attraction hit song in this album was ‘Ugcoke Njani’ which talks about the women whose dress code that reveals more flesh which leads to rape. The album sold more than 70 000 units, which is still selling and still the favourite among radio deejays.         
2004 saw yet  another heartwarming album ‘UJehova Ungumelusi’  which was released with the hit track ‘Ngibona Amazulu’ .

In 2005 they released  “Buya Nkosi Jesu” which carried a very powerful message that shook the whole country. With this album NCA Music Productions joined hands with Mrs Nosipho Daniels-Mtyobile, director of Malihambe Records and Entertainment for the purpose of marketing and promoting the group, which led the group to the success of reaching to places the group has never been before and resulted to the success of selling over a Million copies and still selling very well in the market. Songs like ‘Ukhonza phi?’, ‘Zulu khaya lami’ and ‘Jesu Msindisi’ moved many hearts with the message.
Timothy once again regained strength to produce another following of the previous album, which took him two years.

The result was ‘Izethembiso Zenkosi.’
The group is proud that it has sold over a two million copies  in spite  of the challenges and trials they have gone through over the years. The road wasn’t easy, but God has been wonderful, says Myeni.
The latest release was launched in Durban last month and it looks like the group still has more albums in store for its fans and Gospel music lovers alike.

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