Sikheli Junior urges people not to forget their roots

Traditional Tshivenda musician and songwriter Sikheli Junior has been in the music industry for 11 years, and with a string of albums under his belt, he has proven that he is an experienced artist and entertainer.

Sikheli Junior, born Mudodzwa Josef Nengudza, last released an album in 2020, during the Covid restrictions. The album, titled A Li ngo Lala, was not promoted well because of the dreaded pandemic, but this did not deter him from composing more music.

On Friday, 5 May, he released his seventh album, Pangula Ndevhe. The 12-track album boasts songs such as Mufunwa Wanga, Khombo and Diphineni, which have already become favourites with his fans. The album was recorded at his Athletes Media Productions studio, which he founded in 2018.

Sikheli Junior was born at Tshifudi but grew up at Mangondi. He refers to his music as “sacred” and “spiritual”, saying that it is inspired by his own personal experiences and what he observes from others. “I sing about topical issues that affect the community. On my latest album, which I rate the best in my career, the track Khombo is an expression of my dissatisfaction over the way people treat the dead these days. Our culture dictates that we perform rituals upon death to appease the spirit of the departed. We have forsaken our roots, and this is leading to so many ills in the community. Families are breaking apart, there is no peace, and, for many, things are not going right at the workplace either. Let us go back to our roots and all will be well with us,” he said.

The foundation of his music is choral reggae in true traditional Tshivenda style through his connection to cultural observation, heritage, and sharing knowledge. In 2013, he won the South African Traditional Music Awards (SATMA) Best Tshivenda Album for his debut album, Ladzani Shango, which was released in 2012.

Entertainment - Date: 12 May 2023

Elmon Tshikhudo

Elmon Tshikhudo started off as a photographer. He developed an interest in writing and started submitting articles to local as well as national publications. He became part of the Limpopo Mirror family in 2005 and was a permanent part of the news team until 2019.

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