(Zimdollar
dressed & styled by Zama of Zarth. Pic by Bongani Dlamini)
A debut recital compact disc by Zimdollar,
gifted newcomer to the South African recorded music scene, spells great news
for legions of Afro Pop enthusiasts on the hunt for fresh listening material.
Released under the title, Kwaze Kwamnandi, Zimdollar’s new
12-track disc features an exciting mix of styles. These include traditional
music, a dance track and a touch of gospel music amongst its ingredients – also
boasting a wedding song in which Zimdollar is joined by guest artist
Sibongiseni Shabalala, a member of the popular Durban-based Shabalala Rhythm
group.
“I aim to take listeners on an emotional
journey with me as they experience my new CD,” says Zimdollar, who is known to
thousands of Ukhozi FM listeners as the presenter of the early Saturday morning
show, iKhethelo lo Khozi.
Born and raised near Melmoth in Zululand,
glamorous Zimdollar (then known as Zimiphi Biyela, her given name) showed early
promise as a stage performer while at Sitheku High School. She actively
participated in her school choir’s activities, also performing in her school’s
drama and musical productions.
The enthusiastic young artist then
successfully auditioned for the role of Magasela, the prophetess who forecast
the birth of King Zwelithini, in Mbongeni Ngema’s acclaimed musical production,
House of Shaka, which toured South
Africa in 2004. This afforded her the opportunity of honing her technique as a
stage performer, skilled in singing, dancing and acting.
Then, as a professional member of Ngema’s
Committed Artists Company, she went on to further her stage experience by
appearing in Ngema’s production of 1906
Bhambada The Freedom Fighter.
After attaining her Bachelor’s degree in
Education through UNISA, she taught Zulu, Arts and Culture and Social Sciences at
the Ohlelo Combined School in Nkandla between 2009 and 2011, before joining the
SABC as a presenter.
Since hosting the entertainment and variety
programme mentioned above, Zimdollar was promoted to host Ukhozi FM’s widely
popular Sigiya Ngengoma show, one of
the station’s flagship programmes, broadcast on Saturdays between 09h30 and
12h30.
Tracks featured on Zimdollar’s Kwaze
Kwamnandi disc are imaginatively titled: Ithemba
Lami; Amasoka; Ithonga; Usizi; Indlala; Amathanga Amancane; Kwaze Kwamnandi; Vuka
Sizwe; Umona; Emnqamulezweni; Amathanga Amancane (Club Mix); and Kwaze Kwamnandi (Instrumental).
All the songs were composed by Malcolm
Nhleko and Zimiphi Biyela, except Indlala
which was composed by Malcolm Nhleko and Mandla KaNozulu. The CD was recorded
in 2012 and completed in May 2013 at Maltre Studios in Durban under the aegis
of executive producer Mandla KaNozulu. All the tracks were mixed and mastered
by sound engineer Malcolm Nhleko and produced by Malo-D.
Released by KaNozulu Productions and
distributed by KZN Music House, Kwaze
Kwamnandi is now available in stores.
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