Xolly Mncwango proves yet again why she’s gospel royalty

THERE are concerts, and then there are moments - moments that feel suspended in time, where music becomes more than melody and lyrics, and turns into an atmosphere.

- LUTHO PASIYA

Last week, the Durban International Convention Centre became that kind of space, as gospel powerhouse Xolly Mncwango staged day two of her The Unusual Encounter concert.

The buzz had been building for weeks. Fans arrived draped in their Sunday best, voices ready, hearts expectant.

The stage was lit in blue and red colours. And when Mncwango stepped into the spotlight - elegant, poised, every inch the queen she is - the room erupted.

“These shows are unusual because they are not just concerts,” she told the crowd early in the evening. “They are encounters with God. It is worship, it is testimony, and it is healing all in one.”

From the first note, she made good on that promise.

Backed by a tight band and a choir whose harmonies wrapped around her soaring vocals, she moved effortlessly between her celebrated hits and the fresh treasures from her latest release, Unusual Deluxe.

The music and the message

Unusual Deluxe is more than just a re-release - it’s a gift for the fans who have journeyed with her. The extended version of her acclaimed 2024 studio album Unusual retains the 21 original tracks and adds five live recordings from her Carnival City concert earlier this year.

The bonus tracks - gama Lakho, Alikho Igama, Thank You, Healing Power and Liyabasebenzela - carry a raw, unfiltered power that live worship uniquely brings. “Some of these songs are not just about music,’ she said. “They are markers of my journey, my faith and my calling as a worship leader?

On stage in Durban, the new and the old flowed together effortlessly. Her songs transformed the atmosphere — hands lifted, tears fell, and an almost tangible stillness settled over the room as she sang.