Jenedik (real name Mthabisi “Eugene” Ngwenya) pays homage to one of the most notable music genres in South Africa: kwaito.
With his debut single, “Tholakala”, Jenedik hopes to revive the passion for kwaito, which formerly dominated the music industry.
Jenedik has teamed up with his long-time friend and budding musician, Privz, who also makes her music debut with this song.
Together, their collaboration highlights the rich cultural legacy of South Africa.
Jenedik shared: “‘Tholakala’ is a track I wrote to bring back the love for kwaito music. Yes, we have amapiano now and it’s doing really well, but I miss hearing that old school kwaito music, which inspired me to write the song.”
He continued: “I really wanted my fans to have that feeling of nostalgia from the kwaito era.
“In isiZulu, we say ‘ungikhumbuza ezamuzukwana,’ which translates to ‘you remind me of the good old days,’ and this is exactly what I wanted my fans to remember. That era of Isipantsula, wearing white sneakers and bucket hats while having amaSkopas.”
Drawing inspiration from kwaito legends in South Africa and through his exposure to the diverse cultures of Mzansi townships, Jenedik lists Trompies, Tkzee, Zola 7 and the late M'du and Mandoza, among his favourite musicians.
In the future, he wants to use meaningful collaborations to bring back the love of kwaito music among listeners while also dipping into more contemporary genres like amapiano and afro-tech music.
Listen to “Tholakala” below: