Nhlanhla Ngqaqu, 35, is on a spiritual quest to enlighten and heal through his music, as well as to raise people’s awareness. Almost a decade ago he had a dream of an “Afrika” that was filled with love and justice, and formed the Africanist jazz ensemble iPhupho L’ka Biko to fulfil it. This dream has since been shared with many people and in many spaces; live shows bring audiences together in healing and love as well as in history and revolution. The band fuses jazz and gospel with the indigenous African genres of imvumane and igwijo. iPhupho L’ka Biko explores themes such as ritual, culture, origins, race and displacement.
The band has released two singles, a compilation album called Indaba Is and an EP, which are doing well on streaming platforms and won them the Standard Bank Gold Ovation award. Nhalanhla is inspired by his family members and black people “who are resilient in the struggle against systematic oppression”. He says that instead of dwelling on problems, he rather focuses on creating, healing and inspiring.
He takes part in the weekly Amanzi sessions that fight against alcohol addiction, a problem in the townships responsible for a cycle of violence, trauma and abuse, in which many youths are trapped.
iPhupho L’ka Biko aims to conscientise and spiritually awaken humanity globally through music. The collective explores themes such as spirituality, ritual, tradition, culture, religion, origins, race and displacement. The band fuses jazz and gospel with the indigenous African music of imvumane and igwijo. A live iPhupho show is coming together in healing, love, prayer, unity, history and revolution.
In collaboration with UK-based record label Brownswood Recordings, iPhupho L’ka Biko released the single Abaphezulu as part of the compilation album Indaba Is.
The band also released the single uThixo uKhona through Platoon and ALTBLK>>, curated by Msaki, and an EP. They are enjoying success on digital streaming platforms and received the Standard Bank Gold Ovation award.
My grandmother Nombotshwa Ngqaqu, my mother Nomthandazo and many other black women in my life, through their love, selflessness and radical care.