Maskandi star Khuzani Mpungose has finally bagged the Ukhozi FM Ingoma Ehlukanisa UNyaka (Top 10) after his song was voted the most popular song of the year by listeners.
The song titled Ijele, featuring Luve Dubazana, is part of the new blockbuster album Isipoki Esingafi and received 900,000 votes, ushering the listeners of the biggest station in Africa into the new year. He beat artists such as Kelly Khumalo, Azania, DJ Hlo, Big Zulu, Mapara A jazz, Igcokama Elistsha, SOA Matrix, Nomcebo Zikode and MFR Soul, who were in the Top 10.
Mpungose, who is also popularly known as Indlamlenze, became the third maskandi artist to win the Ukhozi FM Ingoma Ehlukanisa Unyaka after Mroza Fakude and Ntencane Zondo previously won. Following his recent success that includes winning awards, coming up with his own perfume and publishing his own biography, the singer born in Emandaba Village in Nkandla has proven that he is a king in the genre. His career was strongly influenced by the late maskandi giants Mgqumeni Khumalo and Mtshengisen Gcwensa. Sowetan caught up with the 32-year-old.
Congratulations on your win and how does it feel?
I’m excited to finally win Ukhozi FM Ingoma Yonyaka. It is a big thing for me. I’m glad that I finally had a chance to enter after spending many years being left out because I released my albums very late. This win means a lot to me. More than that, winning Ukhozi FM proved that whatever I am doing people love and appreciate it. I am happy that a maskandi song won and this shows that maskandi has grown and it was more popular than many genres. It showed that it was the music that is listened to by both educated and uneducated people.
You shocked the country with close to a million votes?
I won with over 900,000 votes and I also still cannot believe what my fans did. I’m very grateful to all people who love and support my music. What was strange was that even when they were tallying all the votes of other nine artists they could not reach 900,000 votes. It came to 700,000 votes.
How is your album Isipoki Esingafi doing?
The album was released on November 27 and it has done wonders . On digital platforms it achieved 1.1-million streams in three weeks of its release. While with physical copies it has sold 19,000 copies but again it has been slowed down by Covid-19. On ITunes, it was number one at some point but now it is sitting comfortably at number 2. It follows Black Diamond. I’m actually surprised with the way it has performed. This just proves that I did not waste my time when I went to the studio.
You’ve been collecting awards lately. What’s your secret of success?
I have only one secret, which is hard work and focusing on what I do. I have won major awards in my career. That has encouraged me as an artist. Winning these awards encourages me to work even harder.
Where to from now for Khuzani?
I don’t want to say much, but one of my pipeline projects is the collaborations with different artists, including Nomcebo Zikode, who is also interested in working with me. I think I have done well in South Africa and now I am aiming for the Grammy Awards.
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