Durban-born musician, composer, and producer BandaBanda is returning home with something deeply personal.
On 26 March, he launches the Durban leg of his Isikhathi tour, a project that goes beyond music, inviting audiences into a world of film, storytelling, and sound.
The experience begins with an intimate visual album screening at The Chairman, where Isikhathi unfolds on screen as a cinematic journey. Through movement, symbolism, and layered storytelling, the music is given new life, allowing audiences to feel the project in a more immersive way.
The following evening, 27 March, he takes to the stage at The Playhouse Company for a live performance that promises to be just as moving.
With decades in the industry, he says he understands both the beauty and the challenges of being an artist today.
“Being an artist today requires resilience and a deep understanding of the industry,” says BandaBanda.
“We need to create spaces where African music can evolve, be experienced fully, and continue to tell our stories.”
Known for his expressive bass playing and rich, textured sound, he blends African musical roots with contemporary influences to create something both grounded and global.
Isikhathi, which means “time”, is a reflective body of work that explores growth, identity, and transformation. It’s also a reflection of BandaBanda’s own journey, one that began in Durban, in a home where music and storytelling were part of everyday life.
He later studied at the Natal Technikon School of Jazz and Popular Music, where he was mentored by legendary pianist Bheki Mseleku, an experience that helped shape his sound and artistic direction.
Over the years, the musician has worked alongside some of the continent’s most respected names, including Hugh Masekela, Sibongile Khumalo, Busi Mhlongo, Madala Kunene, and Thandiswa Mazwai.
But beyond the collaborations, he has also quietly helped shape the industry behind the scenes.
Through BandaBanda Agency, he has curated live music experiences and platforms for artists such as Simphiwe Dana, Samthing Soweto, Mandisi Dyantyis, and Langa Mavuso, creating spaces where South African music can thrive.
He further explains that bringing Isikhathi to Durban is more than just another tour stop, it’s a homecoming. And for audiences, it’s an opportunity to experience music not just as something to hear, but something to feel.
Saturday Star