Welcome to the official
website of Zolani Mkiva
His Royal Heritage - The Poet
of Africa
Zolani is one of the youngest practioners of one of the oldest oral
traditions in africa, kubonga (praise singing). Hailing from Idutywa
a small town in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, Zolani
rose to prominence in 1990 when, barely a month after becoming a
fully-fledged Imbongi Yesizwe (Poet of the Nation), the schoolboy
was called upon to salute with a red hot rendition the recently
released Nelson Mandela at his Welcome Home Rally in Transkei.

Milestones
· Mandela’s
Poet Laureate - RSA
· Winner of Die Woche Award - Germany
· Prince Of Afro-Poetry - Zimbabwe
· Recited at the House of World Cultures – Europe
· Performed at the Turn of the Century festival – France
· Presented at Africa business Day Forum - USA
· Performed at the world Council of Churches – Zimbabwe
· Performed at Freedom Celebrations in Swaziland
· Cultural Day in Tanzania
· College of Chiefs in Lesotho
· Millennium Celebrations at Robbin Island
· 30th Anniversary of the revolution in Libya
· Call for freedom & Peace in Palestine
· Poet of Africa at the African Parliament in Pretoria
· Commonwealth of Nations in Durban
· Poet of Africa at the OAU summit in Libya
· President Mbeki’s installation
· International Poetry Festival in Holland
· Children’s Festivals and Africa week in Turkey
· International Poetry Festival in Ireland
· The Sharq Toranolari in Uzbekistan
· International Poetry Festival in Colombia
· Present the latest album in Brazil
· Best Traditional Artist in Africa ( Kora Award)
1991 saw Zolani complete his matriculation, and during the same
year, consolidated his role as Imbongi through extensive work at
community projects. The role of an Imbongi is a responsible one
in African society, for it involves articulating the feelings of
the community, and encapsulating these sentiments in concise poetic
phrases. Not only does Imbongi praise, but must also ponder, even
offer criticism.

Yasser Arafat
Especially
at this time of political transition and nation building in South
Africa, Zolani felt the need to broaden his knowledge and analytical
tools, and decided to pursue studies in Social Sciences at the University
of the Western Cape. His studies included oral traditions, history
and cultural issues, and in this way, he became a dual practitioner
and scholar of African Poetry as well as Traditional Music. This
opened a new path of a wonderful combination as he employed his
poetry for musical compositions.
While
completing his degree, Zolani remained active in a host of cultural
matters. Significantly, in 1994 he participated in numerous preludes
throughout South Africa, including the inauguration of President
Nelson Mandela, in Pretoria on 10 May, where he rendered two items.
It was at this point when Zolani became officially, Nelson Mandela’s
poet Laureate.
On
the educational front, Zolani has been involved on part time basis,
for example, assisting with programmes at the Community Arts Projects
as Mentor, and serving as a guest lecturer at both Universities
of the Western Cape and University of Stellenbosch. In addition,
there has been a myriad of public lectures at schools with relevant
topics on Patriotism and the revival of our culture.
Zolani
Mkiva participates in events either as an Imbongi, or alternatively
as a Compere. Unlike other performers, he will ordinarily have to
give careful consideration before participating in an event, and
frequently research the topic at hand, maybe prepare a specific
framework for a recital. Like a jazz musician, the lines of an Imbongi
are never fixed – they are improvised,
at times melodic and at times melancholy. And not always guaranteed
to please with tame platitudes
- A lion must Roar !
Some
Highlights of Zolani Mkiva
In 1994 Zolani developed a very close relationship with Jabu Khanyile
and Bayete, this saw him touring the country with this legend of
African Mixolidia. The following year they were both in invited
in Zimbabwe for the proccedings of the SADC summit as they posed
a good combination. In this historical event, Zolani was saluted
as the Prince of Afro-Poetry.
Shortly
before that, Zolani was bestowed with the International award for
reviving and promoting the tradition of Ukubonga. The Die Woche
Award was issued by a leading Germany newspapar in Hamburg.
1995
saw Zolani sharing the stage with the Mansa of Mali, Salif Keita
on his first visit to South Africa. This was to be an everlastng
relationship between the two musos who have one thing in common,
poetry in their blood, as you know that Salif is a Griot which equals
Imbongi. Greater things were yet to come for the farmboy as in 1996
again was called upon by Making Music productions to take the Chairmanship
of African Reconnection which was meant to reconnect South African
artists with the rest of Africa’s Divas. During the same year
Zolani compered Ismael Lo tour in the country and also featured
in his live performances,
1997
saw Zolani releasing his first solo album entitled “ Halala
South Africa”. This album was a combination of his recitals
and afrocentric sounds, which unleashed a fresh crop of lyrical
beauty engulfed in music. In the same year Zolani has started working
closely with the king of African Ballads, Ringo Madlingozi. He has
featured in more than three albums of this golden voice of Africa,
viz, Sondelani, Mamelani and Buyisa. Zolani also worked closely
with the African song-bird from Benin, Angelique Kidjo and this
saw Zolani being invited by Kidjo to do an intro on her Voodoo Child
album. Not only that, Zolani also feature on another track, Babaluba
in the same Angelique project. He also worked with the brilliant
musician from DRC, Papa Wemba. Just before the second democratically
elected President of RSA, Thabo Mbeki was installed Ringo and Zolani
were commissioned to produce a single in honour of this protagonist
of African – Rennaisence and this album gave Mbeki a clear
mandate to take us to the next Millennium.
Zolani
released an International album in 2000 which was his second solo
album. This one was entitled "Qaddafi” and it enjoyed
a lot of airplay and its vedio plays to date on the national television.
In these two solo albums Zolani worked very closely with Sizwe Zako
who co-produced his albums.
Mazenethole is the latest offering by Mkiva and is expected to do
wonders all over the world as it pay tribute to the icon of Freedom
in Africa, DR Nelson Mandela. In this album Zolani draws our attention
to respect our rituals and customs. In a song where he addresses
the fatalities in the schools of initiation, he hits hard on flybynight
traditional
surgeons. He also causions the parents to guide the kids to uphold
their african heritage.
Heartically and Rootically, Zolani is committed to the welfare of
African Music, Poetry, Dance and arts in general.

Left
Picture: Johan Vollenhoven & Faizel Cook
Right Picture: Christoph Kopke
Community
responsibility
Zolani is the founder and field worker for the Mkiva Humanitarian
Foundation which helps the rural people on a number of issues relating
to development of arts & culture, welfare and education. The
foundation is currently working on openning a cultural school at
the banks of the Great kei river in the Eastern Cape.
Zolani Mkiva is also the reigning, Chief Executive Officer of the
Xhosa Royal Council which looks after the interests of His Majesty,
King Xolilizwe Sigcawu and the entire Xhosa royal Family. The council
is responsible for rural development in the area of jurisdiction
of His Majesty.
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