The legendary tshingondo and rhumba musician Amos Ngomane is once again making waves on the music scene with the release of his latest single, Amos Ngomane The Return.
The single, recorded at Mphagani Studio in Muledane, was released on Thursday, 21 August, and marks Ngomane's much-anticipated return to his signature genre.
Ngomane, originally from Bungeni outside Louis Trichardt, is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of Xitsonga rhumba in South Africa. Earlier in his career, he collaborated with Xitsonga music icon Alpheus Maluleke and also with the Ntlhaveni Brothers.
For this single, Ngomane worked alongside his protégé, popular Rhumba musician MuAfrica Marko of the More Fire Big Machine Band, whom he nurtured and trained in the genre from scratch.
With an impressive discography that includes four rhumba albums and one reggae album, Ngomane is no newcomer to the music industry. His top hits include U Xikumile and Nkwahle i Munhu. His last rhumba release came in 2009, after which he took a long sabbatical.
He resurfaced last year with a reggae album, Don't Kill a Lion, released under the stage name The Spirits. Despite its success, Ngomane's heart remained with rhumba, prompting the release of Amos Ngomane The Return.
"I am back in the game, doing what I love most," Ngomane said. He added that rhumba had been part of his life since a young age. He even went to Zimbabwe to learn more about this genre.
"I released four albums but could not continue as the guys I played with were scattered and we could not practice. It was not until I met MuAfrica Marko, who encouraged me to go back to the studio,[that I could do so]. Ironically, I was the one who launched Marko's music career from scratch. We worked together on this project and the final result is amazing. We titled the single Amos Ngomane The Return as it marks my return to my original genre. I am so motivated and grateful to Marko that plans are afoot for a full album, which will be released soon," he said.