SA: Simphiwe Dana announces release of new single and album

The single, titled ‘Usikhonzile’, is off the Afro-soul singer's upcoming album Bamako, which is expected to drop later in March. The single will be available for streaming on all major digital services.

“Usikhonzile means ‘you worship us’ but more than that it means ‘you take care of us’,” Dana told Music In Africa.

She said the single paid homage to an unnamed acquaintance “who is a friend of many people in this country."

"It’s basically meant to give him his ‘flowers’ while he is still alive. It’s about praising him for the work he has done for many people,” she said.

Dana, who has been likened to South African greats Miriam Makeba and Dorothy Masuka, said she would not reveal the name of the person.

Bamako

“I am planning to launch a 13-track album called Bamako at the end of March. I will also not mention who is featuring on the album but at least three artists are featured,” Dana said.

“I have a strong affinity for West African music, particularly Mali and Senegal. Last year I took the opportunity to produce some of the songs on the album while in the Malian city of Bamako, where I stayed for almost a month.

“It was my first time in Mali and I experienced the country’s culture through Bamako and this is how I came up with the title, Bamako.”

Watch the video for Simphiwe Dana’s 2014 single ‘Nzima’ below: