South African singer and songwriter Azana is back with a new single, ‘Zalabantu’, a smooth Afro-pop love song that explores the singer’s culture as a Zulu girl.
“In this song, I tell my lover that they must come to my home to pay for Lobola. Lobola is the practice of paying a bride price which is traditionally paid with cattle however nowadays money is equivalent. I proceed by exaggerating, telling him not to forget to bring 2 million rands for the commencement of the Lobola negotiations known as ivula mlomo because after all, I’m worth it!” says Azana.
‘Zalabantu’ was produced by Sakhile Manqele and songwriter Sbahle Mdunge, all brought together by Azana’s effortless alto.
‘Zalabantu’ is the first single from Azana’s upcoming sophomore album ‘IGAGU’ due for a 2023 release. ‘IGAGU’ is a follow-up to her 2020 debut album ‘Ingoma’ which turned her into a household name and a house music secret weapon.
‘IGAGU’ refers to an individual who stands out among a group of singing or dancing people. “Because of the love I have for music and the arts I have always stood out in a group of singers and creatives, I participated in music my whole school career, as I grew older, I gained confidence to direct musically and lead in the choirs I was in and became IGAGU!” Azana explains.
Stream ‘Zalabantu’ below:
