lu dlamini

 A talented Durban-based vocalist, composer and traditional instrumentalist. Dlamini, who hails from the Natal South coast and comes from a musical family, is known for her distinctive style, as showcased in her previous album, "Ulimilam.". In her reflections, Dlamini draws on South Africa's complex history, noting the contrast between the hopeful songs of the past and the current challenges faced by many South Africans.

She highlights the role of music in advocating for peace and justice, and how it served as a platform for expressing a vision of unity during times of political struggle. She continues to use her music to foster understanding and promote a cohesive culture through her outreach project called "Art Knows No Boundaries". This outreach has been taking music to schools since 2012 and has enjoyed support from The Headroom and SAMRO through Concerts S.A, in a South African-Norwegian initiative that supported live music.

For live performances and studio recording of her new Album Lu features revered artists, Riley Giandhari on Drums, Ntobeko Shandu on Bass, Zibusiso Makhathini on Piano and Marius Botha on guitar and production. Dlamini's soon to be released Album received support to complete from S.A.M.R.O & The Headroom studio and it is titled GIDO. Explaining the origins of the title of this album Lu says,

"Gido, short for Kitomena, is my mother’s name given to her by her parents, Kitomena (Cato Manor) in full. Kitomena was a place with its history similar to that of Sophiatown in Johannesburg and District six in Cape Town. This is where people lived together until the Apartheid regime destroyed this settlement in 1959.  The spirit of Ubuntu remains amongst the people who grew up in these cosmopolitan spaces.

My mother followed what her name stood for. She was the embodiment of Ubuntu. Her extended family including grandchildren is a beautiful mix of Zulu, Xhosa, Tswana, Swazi, Igbo, Italian and Afrikaans.

She is no longer in this realm. To me she is the perfect ancestor to plead with the unseen for us all to find peace and live cohesively in this world we all call home.

A combination of Sounds featuring  Umakhweyana, Umrhubhe,  Piano, Smooth Talker guitar and Madalaline Guitar. Special features and contributions are made by world recognised practitioners, David Jenkins (Qadasi) playing one of South Africa's traditional instruments called Umrhubhe, Andile Yenana features on Piano, Steve Newman on the Smooth Talker guitar and Madala Kunene playing the Madalaline style guitar.

At present Lu and the Art Knows No Boundaries team made up of Musicians, Poets and Education Specialists are back in schools with a Making Music and Story Telling initiative which supports Arts Educators in their main purpose of the subject Creative Arts, developing learners as creative and imaginative individuals who'll have a basic knowledge and skills to participate in arts activities and prepare them for possible further study in the art forms of their choice in Further Education and Training. 

A tour planned for later in 2025 is meant for the sharing of the journey with South Africa's diverse communities. 

To book Lu Dlamini for a live performance please forward an enquiry to:

info@theheadroom.co.za or marius@theheadroom.co.za

Mobile Details: +27824613950 or +27837166990