Ncono Siyeke

# Mshinwemali gathers a formidable ensemble on *Ncono Siyeke*

Released on 10 September 2024, *Ncono Siyeke* is a five-track EP from Mshinwemali. The project is defined by its unusually expansive list of collaborators, with every song involving multiple featured voices and contributors rather than presenting the release as a strictly solo statement.

The EP opens with “Into Yami”, featuring Zothando, Londeka Shangase, Umafikizolo, Senzo Sabelo Ntuli, Insika Yethonga and Zothando Mbuyazi. That large creative team returns on “Ukungibhedela”, with Lethukuthula Madondo added to the lineup. The result is a project whose identity is rooted in collective participation: Mshinwemali remains the primary artist, but the tracklist consistently makes room for a broad supporting cast.

The title track, “Ncono Siyeke”, features Shenge Wasehlalankosi alongside Umafikizolo, Senzo Sabelo Ntuli and Insika Yethonga. “Ngena” brings in Somcwayi and Thanduxolo Zulu, while “Sathane” closes the EP with Umafikizolo, Senzo Sabelo Ntuli and Insika Yethonga.

At five songs, *Ncono Siyeke* is a compact release, but its credits give it a substantial sense of scale. Several collaborators recur across the project—particularly Umafikizolo, Senzo Sabelo Ntuli and Insika Yethonga—creating a thread of continuity between tracks, while guest appearances from Zothando, Londeka Shangase, Shenge Wasehlalankosi, Somcwayi, Thanduxolo Zulu and Lethukuthula Madondo add variation.

For listeners exploring new South African releases, *Ncono Siyeke* is worth noting for this collaborative approach. It is a concise EP that places Mshinwemali at the centre of a wide musical network, with each track extending the project through a different combination of voices.