INTERNATIONALLY acclaimed maskandi musician Mbuzeni Mkhize has encouraged other maskandi artists to normalise performing live to get overseas gigs.
Mbuzeni, who usually performs in different countries overseas, launched his new album titled Amawololo in style by performing it live in front of his fans at the Bat Centre in Durban, KZN on Saturday, 22 July.
He told Daily Sun that many maskandi musicians are only popular in Mzansi because they mime in many of their performances.
"Overseas audiences don't want miming performances, but they want the artist to perform live and explain the song's meaning.
"That's why during my 10th album launch on Saturday, I decided to perform live to give the Mzansi audience the taste of the live performance and inspire other maskandi artists," he said.
Mbuzeni said his album is titled Amawololo because his guitar gives the audience amazing dancing sounds called amawololo.
"On the album, I worked with well-known musicians from other genres like Nomcebo Zikode and gospel star Jumbo, and maskandi star Gatsheni.
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"I hope my fans will enjoy it as I last released an album in 2019 and was interrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown," he said.
The Ephehlweni hitmaker also launched his recording label called MBZ Worldwide to help other musicians reach his level.
"My record label has already started to operate, and I have started to sign artists, including myself. Mavela Nene and Umkhomazi Uphelele are among the artists under my label.
"My record label will also focus on developing genres that seem to disappear, like reggae music and umbhaqanga music," he said.
Mbuzeni said he will ensure that artists under his record label normalise performing live to get overseas gigs.
"I also want to teach those who want to make maskandi music to be able to play the guitars for themselves because it's nice to see a maskandi musician performing while he or she is playing his/her guitar.
"Overseas, they like me because I play my guitar and am able to move it all over my body while it still delivers a good sound," Mbuzeni said.
