Sauti za Afrika brings Kenyan and South African influences to its debut EP, Singabalapha.
The Afro-jazz collective will release Singabalapha in January 2027, exploring belonging, displacement and shared African experiences.
Sauti za Afrika will release its debut EP, Singabalapha, in January 2027, blending Kenyan and South African influences. The five-track project explores identity, displacement, grief and hope through Afro-jazz and African musical traditions.
The title means “We Belong Here” in isiXhosa and draws inspiration from communities facing displacement in Cape Town. Alongside those experiences, the collective examines the cultural connections that link Africans across borders.
Sauti za Afrika explores belonging
The title track takes its name from the Singabalapha community in Observatory, Cape Town. The community emerged after redevelopment and gentrification displaced residents, becoming a symbol of resistance and dignity.
Vocalist and band leader Maria Gakenye recalls encountering displacement when she began undergraduate studies in Cape Town in 2019. Fellow vocalist and band leader Khonkco Twalo says the musicians aim to challenge injustice through their work.
Meanwhile, Zayaphi?, meaning “Where Did They Go?”, remembers neighbourhoods where people supported one another. It also questions what happened to that sense of togetherness.
Hali ya Dhoruba, or “Stormy Weather”, explores grief, loss and uncertainty through Black experiences. In contrast, Kwa Khanya, meaning “Into the Light”, expresses gratitude to God, ancestors and those whose sacrifices shaped the present.
The closing track, Afreecan Blues, celebrates African heritage through chanting, pentatonic harmony and an African interpretation of 12-bar blues. It also draws on Swahili proverbs and ancestral wisdom to affirm hope for a better future.
A musical partnership across borders
Gakenye founded the collective in 2023 after its members met at the University of Cape Town’s South African College of Music. Its philosophy draws on Ubuntu and the belief that artists do not exist in isolation.
Alongside Gakenye and Twalo, the band includes guitarist Daniel Roux, bassist Girswin Pypers and pianist Mthetho Mathenjwa. Josh Roelofse plays drums and percussion.
Their sound combines indigenous rhythms, vocal harmonies, spoken word and improvisation, with lyrics in Kiswahili and isiXhosa. Some members bring influences from South African coloured communities, while Gakenye contributes East African musical traditions.
Gakenye participated in music festivals at Precious Blood Riruta before studying music at Kenyatta University. She later pursued a master’s degree in ethnomusicology at the University of Cape Town, exploring indigenous knowledge in education.
Her training also prompted questions about how music education connects with identity. Twalo, meanwhile, says collaborating with Kenyan musicians has deepened his understanding of shared African histories and cultures.
He has also been learning Kiswahili, adding another dimension to the partnership. Beyond the EP, the collective plans to perform in Nairobi and create platforms for artists exploring African identity and social issues.
