“Zenzile” / “To the ones that came before us”

PG13

Angela Mthembu and Bongiwe Nkobi, together with the PG13 band, perform ‘Zenzile’ and ‘To the ones that came before us.’ In ‘Zenzile,’ the duo sing about a Zulu/Xhosa idiom which, when loosely translated, means we do not sympathise with people who have put themselves in a particular situation. In other words, if you made your bed lay in it. The name of the second song speaks for itself – ‘To the ones that came before us.’ The song is a rousing call to the ancestors and pays homage to the musical pathfinders who paved the way.

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Angela Mthembu, Bongiwe Nkobi, and Towela Tembo founded PG13 on the principles of rhythm, melody, and harmony. The band has since grown into a gender blended art collective that incorporates sensual vocals, evocative poetry, rhythmic lute instruments, meticulous percussive sounds, as well as consonant woodwind vibrational blows. With youthful rhythms accompanied by ancient grooves tied together by the harmonies of tomorrow, their sound is not jazz, nor is it rock 'n roll – it is where those rivers meet, balancing on a tight maskandi rope.