Though he’s developed a repertoire that runs the gamut from electro-infused modern soul to acoustic arrangements, it was on his 2012 debut, Umlilo, that Eastern Cape actor-turned-singer-songwriter Bongeziwe Mabandla made his mark as a champion of South African folk. The collection showcased his refreshing blend of poignant Xhosa lyrics and traditional sounds. “The album is about identity,” Mabandla tells Apple Music. “Identifying myself, who I was—especially for 2012, in the new South African context—it was like standing up for all the music that has been done in South Africa and that never really got a chance. And it had this stamp of being authentically South African, authentically Xhosa.” Produced alongside drummer and musical mentor Paolo Chibanga, Umlilo was the beginning of his journey toward becoming one of South Africa’s most celebrated and innovative alternative artists. “When I think about the younger version of myself, I definitely think that I was heading closer and closer to my dream, and the message that I had in Umlilo was about growing,” he explains. “And I think now, I’m living out that dream. There are a lot of aspirations that I wrote about on Umlilo. And it’s great to reflect and see how much I’ve grown, how much I’ve changed. It just takes me back to a wonderful time—a time of learning. I’ve obviously learned a lot from the past 10 years and learned a lot through the obstacles, the challenges, but also the amazing time. It was this album that really prepared me for the musician I am today.” Here, he talks through key tracks from Umlilo. “Hamba Nami, Pt. 1” “There are two ‘Hambas’: [one to] start off the album and [one to] end the album. I wanted to start off with something that was choral and super traditional as well. It’s almost like a prayer or a nice layer to begin the album.” “Wandenzanina” “This song is probably one of my first love songs. It came from an experience where I had my heart broken. I think heartbreak in your twenties is such a serious deal. Even though I was really young, the emotion was very strong. You can feel the heartbreak in the song—you can feel the loss.” “Ngawe Mama” “This is written about my mother and thanking her for all the sacrifices she made. It’s personal and honest. It’s a simple song, but I think it addresses so much without even trying to be smart. I think what’s under the surface is just the role that women play in South African societies, in Black families and the sacrifice that a lot of Black mothers make to take care of their children.” “Isizathu” “This is the song that really broke me into the South African music scene. And I can’t play this song and not think about Paolo Chibanga, the producer of this whole album and the person who really introduced me to music. We made this together, and it’s one of the first songs I ever recorded. And I didn’t know much about music at the time, so I was really surprised people connected to the song. ‘Isizathu’ means ‘the reason.’ The song deals with different people looking for meaning, or a reason, for their circumstances. We can be different people going through different experiences, but we all go through moments where we don’t understand why things are happening or why something is happening at a certain moment.” “Umlilo” “I think, for 2012, it was really important to speak about identity. I told the story of South African politics and why our people found themselves in the place that we were. I guess it is a pro-Black song, just by telling parts of the story of South Africa. ‘Umlilo’ is ‘fire.’ I wanted to make that comparison that somebody can ‘cry fire’—tears that propel you to do something or to stand up. And the [cover artwork] was meant to look like a matchbox, just to emphasize that message.” “Alright” “This song, I thought I was being really smart. At the time, I was listening to a lot of Aṣa and Neka and Ayọ, and I was trying to really make a song that was similar to [them]. And I wanted to have a really simple hook. It made sense at the time. And maybe somebody can remake it and do some justice to it one day.” “Ndibonisiwe” (feat. Nosisi) “This song featured Nosisi [Ngakane] from Kwani Experience. I love this song because it has really special South African sounds, almost like a Maskandi sound. It really reminds me of Busi Mhlongo, Stimela, Sipho Gumede. It’s about leaving a place that no longer serves you and reaching for something you think might be more for you.” “Freedom for Everyone” “This is a very special song that I wrote, and I didn’t realize it. While I was making this album, I was very influenced by Tracy Chapman, and I think it’s very evident in the song. I wanted to have my contribution into writing protest music and have something to say about the inequality in South Africa and how I grew up.” “Gunuza” “This is also very much about the social atmosphere in South Africa and the inequality. It’s done in a story about a wealthy man who has everything. The song questions his character and who he really is.” “Ntembisweni” “This one is very much inspired by Busi Mhlongo. It’s about moving to the promised land. I was trying to pour out a lot of my desires into the song. It’s a great one to perform.”