Buhlebendalo

Fans of popular South African a cappella group The Soil had to have been surprised when their lead singer, Buhlebendalo "Soil Sister" Mda, released her solo debut in 2020. Born in Soweto in 1986, Buhle joined The Soil while in school. But where The Soil's three albums reflected everyday township life through their folksy kasi-soul sound, Chosi was a rich, heady mix of romance and spiritualism buoyed by traditional African rhythms. Buhle wrote and recorded it during her four-year spiritual initiation as a Zulu sangoma, or spiritual healer. She declares that the time is right for her new adventure amid the joyous female chorus and marimba of "Iwotshi" (Watch), and much of Chosi also reflects Buhle's concern for women, children and the LGBTQI+ community. She also puts her convictions into practice through her Soil Sista Projects initiative, which supports teens through counselling and internships.