Kujenga has a new album, titled In The Wake, set to be released on 20 March, 2024. KEANETSE MOKHOTHU connected with septet leader Zwide Ndwandwe to get insight into Kujenga-behind-the-scenes and also particulars of their latest offering.
What inspired the venture outside the country to settle on the band’s name – Kujenga, to build, in Swahili?
The name came from our love for Africa, its cultures, people and of course the music. We wanted a named that would represent our identity as African musicians, and so we were fortunate to come across a name from the most widely spoken language in Africa. Even though our sound is primarily rooted in sounds that originate from the south of this continent, music from across the borders and within the African diaspora in general, has influenced us in a major way.
Over the years the ensemble has expanded from a quartet to a septet, how did the growth occur?
As a quartet we always spoke about featuring more musicians on stage with us for bigger and better funded shows that we would play once we finally “made it”. Then the pandemic happened and there were no shows at all but it was during that break that I got a chance to sit down and think about the sonic direction of the group. I decided that rather than waiting for the opportunity, I would start writing music meant for a larger ensemble regardless of the platform we would find ourselves on.
The idea behind more instruments involved, was always about expanding the sound and its possibilities. We knew that the music would be enhanced by adding horns to it, especially since we have been inspired by horn-driven music from the very beginning. We have not only grown in size, but we have grown in sound because of this decision.
Staying on septet and music production – please share the process of how you achieve the Kujenga sound.
The most common way that we have made music as a band is a process where one person comes with a composition and shares it with the rest of the group, directing and guiding them on how they envision it being played.
On our first album, it was our keyboardist Owethu who provided a majority of the music. During this current era of the band as a septet, I have been the one who has come up with most of the compositions. It might be that it will be someone else’s turn on the next project. It is basically all about who is feeling inspired the most at the time.
What has being a band leader taught you?
What I have learnt is that leading has very little to do with giving out instructions to people. It is about being able to map out a direction or path that is clear for others to follow. I have understood the necessity of understanding as many different personalities and viewpoints as possible, and finding the common ground in which they can all meet.
Leadership positions or roles have a tendency to make certain people become more selfish, but it is actually how I have become more considerate as a person. Every action taken comes with me keeping six other people, sometimes more depending on the situation, in mind. That is the biggest lesson. Selflessness.
Mentorship – how is it necessary for the maturation of the unit?
It is a crucial aspect to how I have personally been able to become better at certain things – learning from others who have walked ahead of me. I have fortunately been able to call different people in my life mentors, and each of the lessons they have imparted, have gone on to help me become a better member for the band. So, it is a big thing on an individual level, and I believe that because it is a big thing individually, the unit that consists of those individuals become strengthened by the contributions that are brought in by the different bodies.
The new album – you are welcome to let rip on the details!
This sophomore album, In The Wake, is a coming of age album for us. We worked on its recording for almost two years.
The title is a response to living in the wake of the disasters that have visited us in the most recent years – Covid, the cost of living crisis, rise of reactionary politics and state violence – and how those disasters are linked to the disasters of the past, and likely the disasters we will face in the future. The songs deal with some personal and systemic phenomena that mark black existence, in particular, under the weight of these several devastations. Grief, resistance, spirituality, intimacy in community, hope. We have struggled and grown individually and collectively during the entire journey of putting this record together. We hope that it resonates as a documentation of what life is and has always been, but as proof of what life could be.
Kujenga album launch gig
196 Victoria Road
Thursday, 21 March 2024, from 3pm
R200 – R250
196 Victoria Road, Woodstock
Tickets: Quicket
Who: Kujenga The Wake album
Discography: Nationality, In The Wake
Social media: X – @KujenagaLiveSA, Facebook – Kujenga, Instagram – @kujengalivesa, YouTube – @kujengalivesa
WS
