Join us for an intimate evening with South African singer, actress, and storyteller Zolani Mahola - a voice that has moved audiences across the world. As the former lead vocalist of Freshlyground, Zolani spent 17 years touring internationally and collaborating with artists such as Stevie Wonder, BB King, Shakira, Hugh Masekela, and Johnny Clegg - including her contribution to the global anthem Waka Waka (This Time for Africa).
Her work spans music, film, and theater: from performing at Carnegie Hall to winning a Fleur du Cap Award for Best Actress and a South African Music Award for Best Produced Album for her solo debut Thetha Mama. She is an ambassador for the Seachange Project and co-creator of the Tribeca-recognized podcast Back To The Water.
This special night brings together a first listen of her new solo album People Power, an exclusive live performance and sharing of the stories behind the album.
Produced in collaboration with London-based, Grammy-nominated producer Hannah V, People Power delivers a uniquely South African sound to the world, moving seamlessly across Afro-pop, stadium anthems, Gqom, 3-Step, and acoustic ballads - all woven through with Zolani's proud Xhosa heritage and an irrepressible Afro-futuristic spirit.
"I was born 13 years before the fall of the Apartheid regime, and I clearly remember the massive unrest and political action of the late 80s and early 90s. Some of my family were involved in the anti-Apartheid movement, and even as a child, I joined some of the mass protests that brought about the end of that dehumanizing system. One of the unifying cries at the time was the call and answer slogan "Amandla ngawethu!" which means "The Power is Ours". It is a refrain that echoes deeply within me, and still feels so relevant today when we see countless examples around the world of blatant abuses and misuses of power. And at the same time, we see examples of people just like you and me standing up for what they believe in, mobilizing in action and finding connection and strength in raising their voices together."
We invite you to join us before the official release on this special evening and experience People Power up close and personal.
This content has been machine translated.