Langalakhe Mabena
South Africa’s Limpopo music has for the past years evolved from underground coming through to be one of the genres to be reckoned with.
Master KG’s Jerusalema hit which became a runner-up for song of the year in that country proves it.
The song even became an anthem in December, charming many in Bulawayo even to date.
As it were, Beitbridge-born musician Bhadilah real name Gift Lihlohonolo (23) has become Zimbabwe’s first creative to “try” composing Limpopo music, thanks to the TshiVhenda and SeSotho language commonness between Beitbridge and Limpopo.
His songs such as Stambo TshaVenda and Nthengeleni have won the hearts of many in the neighbouring country’s region and it’s among regular songs that enjoy an equal share of airplay on Limpopo local radio stations.
He has even captured the attention of Limpopo music Queen Makadzi of the Matorokisi fame as she requested for Bhadilah to perform at her birthday celebration last year.
Bhadilah is grateful for the love he receives in Limpopo.
“My music is well appreciated in Limpopo and every time I stage a gig there I feel like I am on home soil. Most of my songs are enjoying enough airplay in Limpopo local stations including the major Musina FM.
“I believe that most people in Limpopo connect with my style of creativity as I always get invites to perform in that part of South Africa, the Queen of Limpopo music herself Makadzi invited me to perform at her birthday celebrations last year at Ha-Beria Madzonga,” said Bhadilah.
The soft spoken lad is planning to strengthen his hold on the Limpopo music scene and he has done some collaborations with musicians from that region to stay relevant.
“I always try by all means to stay relevant to Limpopo audience and I have done collaborations with Black Moon on two different songs titled Dzungudza and Ndizwamini. I have also worked on a music video of Nthengeleni which was shot in other parts of Limpopo,” said Bhadilah.
With the Covid-19 lockdown negatively affecting artistes, Bhadilah has learnt that, “as an artiste you must make other investments because a musical career is unpredictable it can just end prematurely and the world forgets about you”.
“We also need to invest in our own home studios and learn a few basics on production because most artistes are stuck at home and they can’t create music because of the lockdown,” he said.
With his stint in Limpopo, Bhadilah has managed to rub shoulders in different events with the likes of Mulalo and Sundani (character names from SABC 2 soapie Muvhango), Master KG, Alingo, Postman and Biodizzy, to mention a few.
He describes his music as influenced by a fusion of Gqom, House and AmaPiano depending on the kind of instrumental he works on.
