Saul Nephawe, who made a name for himself many years ago as a reggae artist before branching out into other music genres, is returning to his roots.
The musician, known by his stage name Burning Saul Nephawe, was inspired by Jamaican reggae singer-songwriter, vocalist, and musician Winston Rodney, better known as Burning Spear.
Nephawe, from Makonde near Thohoyandou, debuted in 1999 with his first album, Victory, which became a massive success. This was followed by a second reggae album, Ngwala Dza Phawe, which propelled him into the national spotlight.
While fans eagerly awaited a follow-up reggae album, Nephawe surprised them by exploring other genres. To date, he has released six albums, with his most recent, Gole, in 2020. However, after that release, he took a hiatus from the music industry.
Towards the end of 2024, video clips surfaced of him rehearsing and performing live shows, sparking rumours that he was recording new music.
Limpopo Mirror set out to find the musician and caught up with him at one of the big malls in Thohoyandou. Burning Saul confirmed that he had returned to reggae music after nearly five years away from the industry.
"Yes, I am back to my music, which is reggae. The rumour you're hearing is true. For the past few months, I've been in deep rehearsals with a full band. I took the long break to rediscover myself, and I can tell you, God's time is the best. While on break, I heard that my music father, Burning Spear, was on a tour of Africa, including South Africa. I attended his South African leg in Johannesburg, and it was the most refreshing show I've ever attended. The peaceful atmosphere there was unlike anything I've experienced," he said.
When Burning Spear visited Vhembe to honour reggae icon Colbert Mukwevho, Nephawe knew there was no turning back. "That was the last straw, and I decided to return to my original music. I've loved reggae from a young age, but I got swept up in other genres. This time, it's for good. Over the years, I've composed countless songs, and I'm ready to share them," he added.
"I can now officially announce that I'm back in music full-time. My fans can expect my new album anytime soon. I urge all my loyal fans to continue supporting my old music, which is available on all digital platforms," Burning Saul said.