The Friday song (on a Sunday): ‘Impumelelo’ by Mandisi Dyantyis

When you start whistling a song on a Monday and it’s still in your head on a Thursday, that’s a good enough reason for people on my WhatsApp group to read about and listen to it on a Friday. And that’s the case with this track by South African singer, songwriter, bandleader, trumpeter and performer Mandisi Dyantyis. I’ve seen and heard Mandisi in concert a number of times and from the time it was written, he has started almost all of them with today’s song, Impumelelo, off his second album, Cwaka. 

A Mandisi concert is the closest thing to a religious experience you’ll ever attend outside of a place of worship. His audiences are adoring and enthusiastically participative, and his rapport with them demonstrative of both humility and charisma. With his massively powerful and unique voice, he seems to reach into the hearts of his listeners with his mix of jazz, soul, gospel and isiXhosa melodies.

Mandisi Dyantyis: rooted in isiXhosa culture

Mandisi’s roots lie deep within isiXhosa culture, the church, his ancestry, family and the Eastern Cape province of South Africa, where he is from. While he studied jazz and can improvise with the best of them, he has forged his own massively popular path, using song craft as a vehicle, to become one of South Africa’s most heralded musicians. 

Impumelelo is infectious, a song that works its way into you. It’s kicked in by Kevin Gibson – probably South Africa’s best drummer – who stays in the pocket, while Mandisi’s trumpet and tenor saxophonist Buddy Wells state the melody in a jiving duet of an introduction. Listening to its compositional start feels like a modern African take on that “carpe diem” Latin anthem of youth, Gaudeamus Igitur, and when Mandisi’s vocal swoops in the Latin is replaced by isiXhosa, with his crystal clear articulation, confident and almost sage-like delivery.

Mandisi feels all powerful on this song about persistence and never giving up, battling to reach things that seem elusive and which will only be realised with perseverance. I just love this track – it’s dynamism and joy, and I hope it helps your spirits soar.

Listen to Impumelelo on Spotify here and Apple Music here.

I started a music WhatsApp group in 2023. I send one song a week on a Friday, with links to both Apple and Spotify, and an accompanying narrative/capsule piece. If you want to engage about a song, get a playlist or just get in touch, email me on markgrosin@gmail.com.

For more of Mark’s top tracks, go here.

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