Vusa Mkhaya starts locking production

EVERYONE hates black. The same goes for the ancestor of Bulawayo’s music sector, Vusa Mkhaya who released his fourth studio album titled Khanyisa.

His latest offering consists of a dozen songs he wrote and recorded in his home studio during the Covid-19-induced lockdown.

In a statement, Mkhaya said the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic was a blessing for him.

“I spent a lot of time at home during lockdown and used my home studio to great effect as I wrote, composed and recorded a lot of music. The lockdown was a blessing in disguise as it gave me allowed me to unleash my creativity.

From the work done during the lockdown, believe me when I say almost four albums can come out of the music I made,” he said.

Khanyisa includes songs such as Dabuka lwandle, Hamba, Shonalanga and the popular Masiyephambili which features various Bulawayo artists. The album is available on various digital stores such as iTunes, Spotify and Deezer.

On the concept of titling the album Khanyisa, the singer said that it depends on many facets of being beams of light.

“There are so many ways to shed light on those who may be facing challenges these days. Many are self-centered, preoccupied with their appearance and what other people think of them. The concept of Ubuntu seems to be a thing of the past and is now a theory for those who still cling to it,” the Lalela singer added.

Mkhaya has carved out a place for himself in Austria where he is a force juggernaut and currently travels to promote his new music.

The musician is part of the band Imbube Insingizi which achieved worldwide recognition and success, with their 2004 album Voices of Southern Africa/Spirit of Africa selling over 250,000 units in North America.

A celebrated artist, Mkhaya is a recipient of the 2020 National Arts Merit Awards gong for Best Diaspora Artist as well as the 2021 Roil Bulawayo Arts Awards for Outstanding Diaspora Artist.

In 2019 he received the UK-Zim Achievers Honorary Award for his service to music and cultural promotion.