Thando Zide’s Ku Ngawe album experience: you just had to be there!

Thanks to Joburg weather, two weeks ago, Thando Zide’s fans who had been waiting with bated breath for her Ku Ngawe album experience, were beyond disappointed when the event was postponed.

But on Sunday 13 September, the Afro-soul and R&B fusion artist made her fans cry, laugh and dance their hearts out as if to prove that her performance had been worth the wait.

The Ku Ngawe album experience

It’s almost impossible not to bemoan the commute for Stella Artois events because the brand worships Muldersdrift despite the area feeling like it’s in an entirely different province.

However, Mount Joy, where Thando’s Ku Ngawe album experience was held, blows you away the second you step inside the gate.

The natural greens and water features emblazoned all around the venue were a perfect backdrop for Thando’s Afro Riviera theme.

As someone who frequents events, there are very few things as satisfying as witnessing guests adhering to the theme, and Thando’s fans rocked their best whites/off-whites, burnt oranges and other sandy earth tones. It also didn't hurt that the sun came out to play, creating a stunning backdrop for the picnic setting.

Her mellow first set set the tone with slow-tempo tracks like Indalo and Lungisa featuring the 2026 Standard Bank Young Artist for Music winner Manana (Ndumiso Manana).

Thando’s second set was an electrified up-tempo carnival of dance, singing alongs and ululations from a crowd that undoubtedly appreciates love stories told in African languages.

Manana joined her again in the second set, and together they took the crowd on an emotional rollercoaster with iLanga Lakho.

But when Thando delivered her last song, Ngehle, an indescribable magic filled the atmosphere, prompting the crowd to lose their morals and go into a trance-like celebratory state.

This was one of those moments that social media users best describe as “you just had to be there.”

Reflections of artists

Manana’s presence alongside Thando live on stage symbolically re-emphasised her words, "Manana has been the most wonderful brother to me," which she uttered before he even arrived.

"His support? I cry every day."

Thando’s album is lyrically layered. Instead of dissecting a singular theme, the singer-songwriter embraces seasonal change and personal growth in Indalo, reminisces about timeless love in Emandulo, delves into the protection of her inner child in Usana featuring Msaki and alerts her mother-in-law to her son’s lack of courtesy and respect in Mama Ka Myeni.

“I’ve never been married so Mama Ka Myeni was derived from observations I made from the lives of my grandmothers, aunts and other matriarchs that we sit around and have tea with.

“Listening to these women made me realise that the challenges we face today in relationships are things that they went through long before we were even born. So my writing process involves other people’s experiences as well,” Thando shared.

Unpacking her relationship with Manana, Thando highlighted the importance of community, adding that these are the people whose love, advice and counsel steer you toward a stronger sense of self-confidence.

Some of Thando’s fans who were present at the event expressed wishing that she were more active on TikTok, and their fave revealed that she was a very shy person.

“But I know that the work that I do requires me to be out there so I do try,” she said.

In the words of fellow R&B star Langa Mavuso who was present at the event, Thando is not only loved in South Africa but all over the world. His favourite songs by Thando are all of her duets with Manana as well as Ngehle.

Langa, who has been working on his deluxe album, expressed being excited about experiencing Thando live and discovering new favourites

Just like Thando, he also delivers his R&B mostly in vernac.

“The importance of staying true to our linguistic identity as African R&B artists is that this is what sets us apart from the rest of the world.

“This genre originated in the US but love is universal and it’s beautiful whether it’s experienced in Zulu, Xhosa, Tsonga or whatever African language people identify with,” Langa elaborated.

For Langa, the lyrical content of African R&B resonates deeper with his soul when delivered in African languages. There’s a powerfulness to his statement especially since Thando’s album experience was held during Heritage Month.

As I suspected, the curation of the set was intentional. Towards the end of a set, Thando confirmed, people are more loosened up, making this the perfect time to turn up the heat.

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