ZANZOLO“I do this for Love, Honour and self-respect”

“I do this for Love, Honour and self-respect, beyond that, I’m championing my peoples struggle to free the nation, Hip Hop is an alternative tool forliberation” Welcome to me

Those familiar with Xhosa history know there existed a number of Kings, the most prominent and unforgettable being Hintsa also hailed as “Aah Zanzolo famously known for solving “ityala lamawele”. Greatly known for his wisdom,courageand honoured for having fought and died while standing against the conquering of his people; their land, their culture and finally their minds.

Zanzolo is a Hip Hop artists and cultural activist that uses art as a tool of self expression and freedom. His music, which he calls Afro-Jazz Hip Hop....sounds interesting doesn’t it? Gracing beats with amazing word play, full bodied lyrical content. His sound is inspired by, Thandiswa Mazwai, Dead Prez, Xoli Nosenga, Krs 1,Immortal Techniq, Busi Mhlongo, Izithunywa Zohlanga, Stompie Mavi

The immediate phrase that comes to mind when you hear the name Zanzolo is: “Toyi Toyi Hip Hop”

This statement represents the flipside of this artist and his political views and stand point. A self professed anarchist with thought provoking and soul searching music to match his radical expression. A young traditionalist at heart this hip hop artists expresses himself is his mother tongue (IsiXhosa). The major reason for this is being able to take people back to their origins and make them realise value of their culture and the importance of preserving Xhosa language and culture through his music

Career History:

When Hip Hop, vernacular/or Spaza as it is known, was at that beginning stage,just starting to be accepted within the tightly knit circles of Hip Hop. where it was in Cape Town,

It was between 1999 n 2001 towards the end of the golden era and the don of a newerawhen this mc emerged and began his path of a quest for a true meaning of freedom n liberation,identity and cultural preservation. Having found his niche and recognised as a great artists, Zanzolo went on to

Form the group UzwiKantu, made up of Zanzolo (Khangelani Ncamile) and S’gqibo(Andile Ntonga) in early 2006.

Keeping in mind this Cape Town is the birth place of S.A Hip Hop it was only right that the kind of Hip Hop UzwiKantu makes has is timeless and speaks to key issues , be it cultural preservation, indigenous Knowledge and of course the skill of a seasoned wordsmith......

This crew has worked with the best talent South Africa has to offer such as Driemanskap, Khanyi ,MaXhoseni, Pzho, Nobuhle Ketelo, Iintloko Zeenyoka ,Biko (Zimbabwe), Jargon Music and Qalazive among other artists.

Toyi Toyi Hip Hop Eastern Cape Tour 2013; which took place in Port Elizabeth, East London and King William’s Town. He recently won the Vukani spoken word Provincial Competion (2013) as well as an award for Best Group (UzwiKantu) at the Cape Town Hip Hop KasiLam awards held at the Baxter Theatre Cape Town (2013) as well as QueensTown Music Awards Best Producer Album. Having a love for travelling, Zanzolo’s career has seen him travelling all over S.A to the Halloween Poetry in Durban with the likes of Topaz, Liquid KZN,Rahkeem, and Infinite Thoughts.

S.O.S Freedom Warriors social movement conference on Cultural Activism:which will took place in Sweden on April 27 2014

Mayibuye Hip Hop Festival: Zanzolo was part of organising team of the Mayibuye Hip Hop Festival, which took place on 24 May 2014, in ay Buyelembo, in Khayelitsha Cape Town. We had a heavy line up filled with legendary as well as upcoming artists and Dj’s like Dj TherealRozzano, Dj Adon Geel, Driemanskap, Rattex, Naked Myndz, Tsviehl The Prince, guest speaker was Rashid Kay, as well as poets from across the country. More info about the Mayibuye Hip Hop festival http://disciplemag.wordpress.com/2014/04/18/mayibuye-hip-hop-festival-cape-town/

War Resistance International Peace Conference:Soundz of the South (the Political Arts Collective Zanzolo is a member off) was invited to debate, speak and perform at this event. It took place during June 4 – June 8 2014. Alongside artists like DreamWolf (USA), award winning poet Melisizwe , Burundi Dancers (BRD)The Ubuntu Academy, as well as speakers and peace/ women’s rights activists( like Arch. Bishop Desmond Tutu, ANC Veteran Nozizwe Madlana) from all over the world.

End Of The Weak Mc Challenge: this event takes place on the 6 September 2014, Zanzolo is chosen to take part and represent the Western Cape in this national Hip Hop competition which will be broadcast on the recently launched OpenView HD channels of e.tv.

African Hip Hop Caravan world tour;which will take place in November 2014. The Phantom Caravan will be travelling from Cape Town to Joburg, to Zimbabwe, to Kenya, to Dakar then final landing in Tunis at the World social Forum, as well as the other countries in between.

Zanzolo is currently editing a xhosa poetry book titled “Isiva somsesane” branching future in to literature, another passion of his. Now finally with him getting ready for another release, “Yakhanani” an EP he will be dropping in soon, Zanzolo has no plans of stopping his steady rise to the top while upholding the core values that got him this far.

Notable TV and Radio History:

Radio Interviews: Umhlobo Wenene FM, Bush Radio 98.5, Nkqubela FM, Tru FM, Radio Zibonele, GoodHope Fm, Rhini fm, and numerous others across the country, where his music is play-listed

Television Interviews and Performances:

Campus connection: Promoting the first UzwiKantu’s first album “Unendlebe nje Unetyala” (SACB1)

Ekse: Promoting UzwiKantu’s latest album “Imbongi zihlasela ngosiba” (C-TV) Free Media Free Minds; for discussion on Cultural Activism and Freedom of Expression (C-TV) Hectic Nine 9: with S.O.S for Freedom warriors(SABC 2)as well as promoting the first Mayibuye Hip Hop Festival .

Magazine Interviews: Phresh Online Magazine, Litsha Magazine, iAM magazine, Live, Underground Disciple, Culture Magazine are a few of the magazines who did features on Zanzolo and UzwiKantu.

Notable Performances Virus Free Generation Campaign sharing stage with the likes of Zuluboy, Zubz & Godessa. Sprite Hip Hoop Tour with likes of Slikour, Kwesta & Teargas. Grand Closing of Cape Town Festival. Grassroots Festival with the likes of Abantu, Projector, PTA0, Qalazive and Yahkeem, in P.E Summer Splash with the likes of Iintloko Zeenyoka, Simbone and Kweries in King Williams Town. Halloween Poetry with the likes of Topaz, Liquid KZN and Rahkeem in Durban Silulo Ulutho and Vodacom Promotion with the likes of MaXhoseni and Rattex. June 16 Celebration with Ian Kamau (Canada) MTN Hype Sessions Anti-Xenophobia with the likes of Driemanskap, Kanyi, Korienda & Ill-Skillz Umhlobo Wenene FM Road show 2010 World Cup fan-park events. Basic Sanitation Campaign 2011 with over 11000 people in attendance. Buffalo city carnival 2014 Globalisation School shindig 2012, 2013 The annual Afrikan Hip Hop caravan (Cape Town & Johannesburg) with Dj Klavical, Mic Crenshaw (USA) Zubz (Mr. Golden Mic) and Pharaoh Express Vukani spoken word competition winner 2013 World Aids Day 2012, 2013 with over 5000 people in attendance Zabalaza Arts Festival: Creative Database at the Baxter theatre (CPT)

ZANZOLO’S ALBUMS Unendlebe Nje Unetyala (2008) Brotherhood Basement: Welcome to Khalture Mixtape (Volume 1, 2, 3) Iimbongi Zihlasela Ngosiba (2012) Isaphetha (2016)

Links

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oOJn8SivQE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovS7Nr-Vtdg&list=UUEZTY6CerQt3f3jNpL7AJ_A http://www.reverbnation.com/zanzolo# https://www.facebook.com/events/293810744104611/

Facebook: Zanzolo Uzwi Kantu Bozza.mobi: Zanzolo

Personal Information:

Name: Khangelani Ncamile Stage Name: Zanzolo (iduna lomthonyama) Music Genre: Afro-Jazz/Toyi -Toyi Hip Hop Inspiration: African culture and Heritage, Political struggles and activism Contact person: Zukiswa Ka Nqose Contact Details: Tel: 082 3636 748 / 072 893 1134 Facebook: Zanzolo UzwiKantu Email: Zanzolo.uzwikantu@gmail.com/zoeynqose@gmail.com