Asanda Mqiki
“Mqiki is a vocal force, a true Afro-soul revelation with an insane degree of control over her notes. Emotive and sassy, exuding a jazzy persona unlike anything I’ve seen she was my best vocal performance of the weekend.” – Texx and the City
Asanda Mqiki is an award-winning vocalist and composer who has wowed audiences from Sweden to Australia, and all around South Africa, with her powerful and emotive voice. Her music vibrates with visceral emotion, bringing together a range of influences from afro-funk, jazz, soul & traditional genres such as mbaqanga to create a signature sound that is topped only by her phenomenally powerful vocals.
​
She has performed across South Africa at premier venues such as The Orbit (JHB), The Chairman (Durban), the PE Opera House, Harringtons (CPT) and Jazz in the Native Yards (CPT), and at major festivals such as the Cape Town Festival (headlining with with Vicky Sampson and Jimmy Nevis), Oppikoppi and the National Arts Festival.
​
Internationally, she has twice performed by invitation at the Gothenberg Culture Festival in Sweden (2014 & 2015), and in 2018 at the Centro Cultural Franco-
Moçambicano in Maputo, Mozambique. She was also the featured African artist for the inaugural online Lovebusk festival, organised out of Australia in 2016.

Other distinctions include:
– Performed at the opening of the Cape Town International Film Market & Festival 2018
– Opening act at the inaugural Pan African Creative Exchange, July 2018
– Selected as one of the Top 5 of the espAfrika espYoungLegends in October 2017
– Winner of a Gold Ovation Award at the National Arts Festival 2015
– Winner of the Eastern Cape MEC award for Best Individual Performer 2015

Her band is a 4 – 8 piece ensemble including Thoba Goba on drums, Grant Allison on electric bass, Mthokozisi Mabuza on keys, Qaqambile Qingana on synths and guest musicians on percussion, horns & backing vocals. Prior to launching her solo career, Asanda performed regularly with platinum-selling a capella group, The Soil. She was also lead vocalist for the band Take Note, with whom she released 2 albums and performed at SA festival Joy of Jazz. She has shared the stage and collaborated with artists such as the legendary Sibongile Khumalo, Freshlyground, Khaya Mahlangu, Bongeziwe Mabandla, Putuma Tiso & Berita.
​
Asanda Mqiki released her first solo album, Nobakithi, in September 2018.

Andy Ndlazilwana is from Motherwell, Port Elizabeth, a descendant of Royal lineage, granddaughter of the late legendary musician, Victor Ndlazilwana. Like her Granddad she is also a dedicated and talented singer and songwriter and is currently doing her Diploma in Music at the Nelson Mandela University.
After spending many years in the background as a backup vocalist, she decided to take a step forward and become a band leader in 2016. Andy was soon selected as one of the performers at the 1st Annual Nelson Mandela Arts Festival, the for the Mamela Festival two years in a row. She later released her first
single “Nomalanga Pamunotangira.” The first time she performed at the Makhanda National Arts Festival, she won a Standard Bank Ovation Award, and
later was part of a band that won an ESP Young Legends award that allowed them to perform at the Cape Town Jazz Festival. She may not have much under her belt yet…but watch this space, she is a force to be reckoned with.

Thembani Jooma Mize, born 6th September 1991, is a young, talented and driven Afri style RnB/Neo Soul singer/songwriter hailing from the “friendly city”, Nelson Mandela Bay. With his quirky and vibrant personality paired with a golden voice, this hidden gem first introduced himself to South Africa on the 15th season of the record breaking TV show “Idols SA” where he reached the final solo round of theater week but was unfortunately cut before live shows.

This didn’t crush his spirit, in fact this made him more determined to pursue his dreams, which then led to his first major collaboration with two nationally acclaimed producers, Mr Luu and MSK of Sony Africa on their single ‘SOMANDLA’ in 2019. He followed up with performances on Morning Live and Kaya FM Unplugged (to name a few) before taking on Idols SA in 2020 (a second time) where he grabbed the bull by the horn and claimed his seat in the infamous “top 16″ . With his song choice and trending performances he represented himself, his city and his province all the way to the top 8 after being coined “The best male vocalist on the show” by “Randal Abrahams, Unathi Nkayi and Somizi Mhlongo.

Soon after the competition ended he continued on to host his first one man show at the South African State Theatre. The show ‘Grown and Intimate’ was a display of the maturity and experience gained from his musical journey thus far, while also displaying how he developed his own sound in music.

Born in the 90s, (an era that to Jooma brought his greatest musical inspirations both locally and internationally) his music influences are vast and spread across genres. His song writing expands from Afro Soul, RNB, Neo-Soul and even House Music.

This young man is the definition of holding on to your dreams. Not only believing in your God given talent but working on it through the hard times and persistence has been the key for this young man. Jooma is a true inspiration and motivation for any upcoming artist that believes in ‘making it’. He has grown from just an average struggling artist to showing what perseverance and hard work can do.