The sons of two loved legends, Mandoza and Brown Dash, are making waves of their own.
As inheritors of their father’s iconic talent Harry, real name Tumelo Tshabalala, and Zwano, real name Kutlwano Mabitsela speaking exclusively to Drum, the two opened up about their journey, aspirations, and the legacy they’re carrying forward and their latest track, ‘Umdali’.
Zwano reflecting on the inspiration behind “Umdali, “The song is about encouraging people, we hope people will listen to the song and have hope that things will not always be the same. Kungabheda kancane, but amalanga awafani,” he shared.
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Zwano is adamant about creating his own identity in the industry, emphasising, “Brown Dash is Brown Dash. There can only be one Brown Dash. I am to build my legacy within his legacy. I was born with music in me. I’d like to say people must watch this space and give me a chance to show that I also have something to offer. Yes, my father influenced me, but I am not doing this because of my father.”
“I love expressing myself on the mic. Kwaito is my go-to sound because I love the culture behind the music. It is a purely South African genre and I love how vernac is embraced in the genre.”
For Harry, music runs in his veins, he said “I have never been into sports and so I decided to put my favourite things together, music and technology. So I am studying sound engineering. One of the modules is music business and I appreciate that because I want to avoid the pitfall my father fell into.”
“I do feel pressure to make something great with the music. I do not have big shoes to fill, but I do have something to live up to. There is no need to compare us to our fathers. We love music, we just happen to be our fathers’ sons.
“I do not want to box myself into a particular genre. But I would like to believe that I make music that all South Africans can love.”
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Also see: Was the Tshwala Bam remix necessary?
