New Age Soul

Neo-soul is taking root in Mzansi, uniting old-school soul and new-school innovation through rising artists, digital platforms, and community events

- Rolland Simpi Motaung

Phumlane Makuoa and his wife, Lungile Zinhle Sibiya. Photo: Mzansi Neosoul Picnic

(Mzansi Neosoul Picnic)

Music continuously evolves with each generation. Rooted in American Motown and blues, Hip Hop, jazz and R&B — neo soul emerged in the early 1990s with the likes of Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, D’Angelo and Lauryn Hill. In South Africa, this movement intertwined with African sounds and inspired a generation of artists such as Thandiswa Mazwai, Simphiwe Dana and MXO.

More recently, a new offshoot — one that strongly resonates with Gen Z — has taken shape. Blending elements of American Hip Hop, Soul and African rhythmic influences, this new sound brings a fresh energy to the local R&B scene. While acts like Kabomo, TK, Brian Themba, RJ Benjamin and Pebbles carried the torch for years, R&B often played second fiddle to more dominant genres such as house, gospel and kwaito.

Now, a new wave of artists is revitalising the genre — combining the past and present to create music that moves both the mind and the body.

Among these emerging voices are Lordkez, Halo Yagami, Umzulu Phaqa, The SN Project, Una Rams, Lia Butler, Marnie Taylor, Marcus Harvey and many more who are steadily building their digital presence.

But what exactly defines this South African neo-soul sound or is it too early to box it with definitions?

"I don’t think we can box what the musicians are doing right now. In fact, if we try to box the genre, it will be killing it. It is very important for us right now to establish it,” says Phumlane Makuoa

Popularly known as Frank Apollo, Makuoa is a DJ and co-founder of Mzansi Neosoul Picnic. Though he shares the general definition of neo-soul - a mixture of hip-hop and R&B - he argues that from a South African context, the genre is still in its infancy.

Thus, trying to box the genre could be detrimental to its growth.