What seemed a far-fetched dream is now in the imminent future for a Makhanda singing group who will feature on the soon-to-be-released album by multi-award winning a cappella trio, The Soil.
The Gwijo Combined group met The Soil at the 2025 National Arts Festival (NAF) after scooping the title of inaugural winners of the Makhanda Igwijo Competition, which the internationally renowned trio headlined and judged.
Igwijo is an SA form of singing known for its intense emotion, shared harmonies and raw vocals.
It has been popularised by young people in sports teams, schools, as well as at weddings and cultural gatherings.
Apart from winning the competition, the group also got the chance to perform with The Soil at the NAF and subsequently secured the unexpected invitation to Johannesburg to record with them for their upcoming album.
The event, and their recent trip to Gauteng, was made possible with the support of the Mandela Bay Theatre Complex and the Eastern Cape department of sport, recreation, arts & culture .
After returning from their three-day trip, the group shared how monumental it was to be in the studio with their biggest inspirations and create music together.
Expressing their gratitude for the experience, the group’s leader, Lizalise Diva, said the experience felt surreal.
“For a moment, I began to reflect on my childhood.
“I remembered singing The Soil songs, such as Iinkomo, with my friends.
“Who would have thought I would be in the studio with them?
“We learnt how much hard work and discipline it takes,” Diva said.
He said while their trip was primarily focused on their time in the studio, they were also taken on a tour of some of Johannesburg’s cultural attractions, such as Nelson Mandela Square, Vilakazi Street and The Market Theatre, where they were joined by NAF chair Prof Siphiwo Mahala and theatre director Mandla Mbothwe.
Another group member, Anothando Skade, said the trip had left them inspired and motivated.
“It was evidence that dreams really do come true.
“Growing up, I used to watch them [The Soil] a lot, so collaborating with them was a big moment for us,” Skade said.
The Soil’s new album is expected to be released later in 2025, featuring lead composer and founder Ntsika Fana Ngxanga, beatboxer and co-founder, Luphindo Ngxanga, and singer-songwriter Theo “Songstress” Matshoba.
Speaking on behalf of The Soil, Ntsika said their session with the group was nothing short of incredible.
He said it had been a blessing to extend their hand beyond the competition stage and bond with the group.
“Those boys are born superstars, they were thrust into a professional studio environment for the first time, yet handled themselves like seasoned pros.
“With a cappella, there’s always the challenge of keeping pitch and tempo consistent, and we introduced them to tools like the metronome to help them hold their ground without losing the soul of their music.
“They rose to every challenge brilliantly, beyond recording with us.
“This experience has shown that they are ready to record their own projects and step into the industry with confidence,” Ntsika said.
With a deep understanding of the origins and evolution of township music, Ntsika recognised that Gwijo went beyond just being a genre.
“To us, it is a heritage and to see our custodianship of a cappella meet their raw gift in such an effortless way is truly exciting,” Ntsika said.
“More than music, we encourage them to keep that same fire in their studies, to stay disciplined, and to live responsibly so their gifts can have longevity.
“They have now seen up close what a sustainable career in music can look like.
“What a start, what an exciting time for them, and for us too. We are so proud.”
The Herald
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