- Buhlebendalo embarked on a solo career in 2020 and has dropped an album and EP.
- After her initiation into traditional healing, Buhlebendalo saw the need to use her talents as a form of healing and therapy.
- Sis Getty is Buhlebendalo’s alter ego who is not afraid to have uncomfortable conversations.
Buhlebendalo Mda has touched the hearts and souls of many with her angelic melodies, love and healing.
After 13 years in the music industry, Buhlebendalo continues to deliver heartfelt music that keeps audiences yearning for more.
After making her breakthrough in 2010 with the acapella group The Soil, Buhlebendalo has reached a magnitude of milestones. Releasing hits such as Baninzi, Susan and Joy and performing alongside her former group members Ntsika Ngxanga, Samkelo 'Samthing Soweto' Mdolomba and Luphindo Ngxanga.
Her journey with The Soil ended in June 2020 because of her calling to pursue a solo career.
“I was called to have my own solo career and maybe it was a call to actually tell my own story as an individual and as a woman and as a mom as well as people who strongly believe in gender equality as well,” she says as she touched on her departure from the group.
“There were different stories I wanted to tell and I could only tell them through my individual voice.”
She released a solo album titled Chosi and an EP titled Deeply Rooted. Buhlebendalo is impressed with how her album has been doing and she is witnessing continuous engagement.
“I feel like those were prayers conceptualised for my own journey but it turned to actually connect and relate to other people that were in the same yearning or same need for the same prayers,” she says, describing her album as therapeutic and meditative.
Buhlebendalo adds, “I was very young when I was singing with The Soil and I don’t think I was consciously talking about things that may affect me and people who are like me in society.”
Her solo journey has been an awakening for Buhlebendalo and she has got to use her talent to advocate for women, children and the queer community. This awakening became vivid in 2016 after she had went through intswaso, which is an initiation to becoming a traditional healer.
“I feel like that is where I actually met the God that lives in me and all the women that reside in me as well wanted to have a voice. I think I was assigned to be that voice and talk about things that are outside of love, family and umjolo.
“I believe I am a healer and I heal through the different talents that uQamatha has given me,” she says, highlighting how she is exploring her many talents and to deliver what her guides are saying to her.
Apart from music, Buhlebendalo identifies herself as a “spiritual psychologist” and she uses her alter ego, Sis Getty, to tackle sensitive issues that are often ignored. “Sis Getty is the aunt that does not have a filter,” she says.
The musician explains that it is important to touch on sensitive issues because people tend to hide their pain behind things such as alcohol and sex.
“I’m going to want to find out what is beyond how are you? And actually tap into conversations we always run away from.”
Buhlebendalo shares some light on how her audience has been since her shift to becoming a solo artist and how it doesn't really matter whether she loses a certain audience.
“I never really watch if my audience is lost or gained but I know my music is not for everyone. It’s for a particular group of people who are on the same wave length as I may be or people who are aspiring to go to that wave you know,” she alluded. “I don’t believe in numbers of the physical, I believe in numbers of who I touch.”
She further highlights that she has not changed from who she was whilst she was still with The Soil because she used to give praises to her higher powers and celebrate her spirituality even at that time.
“Whoever likes me in The Soil will always like me as a solo artist,” she says because she believes that her purpose will be served whether as a member of The Soil or as a solo artist.
READ MORE | ‘Here’s to a magical journey’ – The Soil returns with a new album to celebrate 18 years of music
Moving forward, Buhlebendalo would like to explore new sounds and collaborate with artists from different genres. She has already tapped into the Amapiano genre and has a track on the way with Josiah de Disciple.
Apart from being a creative, Buhlebendalo would like to spend more time empowering the youth and most importantly, rest and share valuable moments with her family.
“I’m currently breathing and taking time for self and spending time with family,” she concluded.
