Legendary South African musician Thandiswa Mazwai is gearing up for a major celebration. Her highly anticipated album, “Sankofa,” drops on May 10th, 2024, followed by a national tour dubbed the “Sankofa Tour.”
The tour kicks off on May 11th at Carnival City in Johannesburg, where Mazwai will also celebrate the album’s launch. Fans can then catch her live at the Durban Playhouse on May 31st before the tour wraps up at the Artscape Theatre Centre in Cape Town on July 20th.
Mazwai promises a show filled with not only new music but also a special treat for longtime fans. The tour will feature selections from her iconic debut solo album, “Zabalaza,” which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.
“Sankofa” itself is a deeply personal project for Mazwai. Recorded in Johannesburg, Dakar, and New York, the album blends archival Xhosa music with jazz and West African rhythms. It features production credits from Mazwai herself alongside renowned artists Meshell Ndegeocello, Chris Bruce, Nduduzo Makhathini, and Tendai Shoko.
Speaking about the album’s title, Mazwai explains, “‘Sankofa’ in the Ghanaian language Twi means to go back and fetch what’s been left behind, what is important, what honors you, and what needs healing. As I prepare to launch this new work, my seminal album Zabalaza, celebrates 20 years. For me, this is the year of Sankofa.'”
Fans eager for a taste of “Sankofa” can listen to the recently released single “Kulungile,” which dropped on April 11th. With a new album, a celebratory tour, and a nod to her musical legacy, Thandiswa Mazwai is poised for a year of artistic exploration and reconnection.
Tickets to Carnival City, Durban Playhouse and Artscape can be purchased here, here and here, respectively.
