Thandiswa Mazwai brings ‘Sankofa’ magic to Cape Town
Cape Town’s Artscape Theatre was filled with excitement on Saturday, July 20, as Thandiswa Mazwai performed her new album, ‘Sankofa’.
The event, held in partnership with Castle Milk Stout, celebrated Mazwai’s blend of traditional and modern music.
The performance was part of Mazwai's promotional tour for Sankofa, released in May 2024. The album title, meaning “to go back and fetch what’s been left behind” in Ghana’s Twi language, aligns perfectly with Castle Milk Stout’s mission of preserving and celebrating cultural heritage.
Khwezi Vika, Castle Milk Stout’s Marketing Manager, elaborated on the partnership: “We regard Thandiswa as family. We worked with her in 2018 on a campaign called Clan Beat, centred around clan names, which is called iziduko.”
He added that the album’s message of ‘Sankofa’ resonates with their ‘Lost Stories of Culture’ campaign, which aims to preserve African traditions and values.
“It's a match made in heaven. Both brands speak the same message: let's not lose sight of who we are as Africans, and let's not lose sight of our traditions and values.”
When asked about Castle Milk Stout’s role in promoting local artists, Vika said, “I wouldn’t say we play a specific role in promoting local artists, but as a brand, we're all about preserving African culture and tradition.
“Our brand exists to inspire Africans to rediscover their traditions and values in a modern world. We focus on culture and tradition.”
The concert received great feedback from fans. One attendee called it “amazing”, praising the band and the lively atmosphere. Another fan, who came alone, said it was a great experience and picked 'Sabela' as her favourite track from ‘Sankofa’.
Another fan connected with Mazwai's song 'Nizalwa Ngobani?', saying it reminded her of high school. “As an adult, I understand the song’s lyrics better, and they now relate to my life,” she said.
During a Sunday brunch, Mazwai reflected on her evolution since recording Ibokwe, “In the 12 years since Ibokwe, I started exploring a jazzy version of my work and collaborated with a band called the Black Jacks. I've been experimenting with different sounds to create something fresh and new.”
When asked if she plans to return to Cape Town, Mazwai responded enthusiastically: “I do want to come back to Cape Town more often.
“Last time, I thought maybe I should do a three-day event because there's so much we can do. We could even meditate together,” Mazwai said.
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