SA: Digital Sangoma to release sixth album on 40th birthday

The independently released project will coincide with Mafu’s 40th birthday and marks his first full-length body of work as Digital Sangoma.

According to the artist, the album reflects his efforts to develop a personal approach to dance music while incorporating elements of songwriting, live vocals and electronic production.

“This project came from wanting to make music that feels true to me, while still carrying the energy of the dancefloor. My interpretation of dance music,” Mafu said.

The title UMSOBOMVU is derived from an isiXhosa term associated with the golden-red light that appears during sunrise and sunset. Mafu said the concept became a metaphor for the musical and emotional space explored throughout the album.

“Since I started DJing and deepened my love for dance music, I’ve been trying to find my space within it without compromising my artistry. UMSOBOMVU feels like the first time everything fully aligned,” he said.

The album blends electronic music influences with soul, vocal performance and songwriting. While rooted in African electronic music traditions, Mafu said the project focuses more on mood and emotional expression than genre classifications.

“This isn’t about trying to make the loudest music in the room. It's about making music that stays with you. Music you can dance to, reflect to, drive to, sit with. Music that feels human,” he said.

In addition to the album, Mafu plans to develop UMSOBOMVU into a broader creative platform encompassing curated mixes, live sessions, visual content, collaborations and live experiences.

The project represents an expansion of his role beyond that of DJ and producer, incorporating his work as a vocalist, songwriter and creative curator.

Reflecting on the album's significance, Mafu said it marked the culmination of a long search for his artistic identity within electronic music.

“At some point, I stopped asking myself where I fit into dance music and started asking what my version of it sounds like. This project is probably the closest I've ever come to answering that honestly.”

UMSOBOMVU will be available on major streaming platforms from 1 July.

Contributor: Sisi Nkabinde, Qhawe Shoba, Hlomisa Nqayana and Kgotso Lefa