Ashley Mamashila
Musician, producer and actor Mnqobi Yazo is now one of the most sought after artists in South Africa.
When he first stepped onto the music scene with his E.P Iscephu in 2018, he was not regarded as a commercial artist but now, he says, he is accepted for who he is and what he has to deliver – and he is coming out fighting.
Yazo, whose real name is Mnqobi Msimango, hails from KwaMaphumulo in Kwa-Zulu Natal and has released his first studio album titled Impi. If it is anything to go by, he is on a warpath to conquer the industry.
Speaking to Scrolla.Africa about the album he said: “I have been so blessed to be working on Impi even during the lockdown. People love it and judging by the responses on social media, they understand the message I am trying to portray.”
Explaining why he named the album Impi he said: “I am still an upcoming artist and I believe that the road to success is through war. There are things that we are faced with in life like the fact that not everybody will like you so that is why I chose impi.
“On the album people can expect the message that comes with the title. I sing in my home language, I am more into doing deep African music because I believe that being African is cool. Hence I make sure that in my music Africanism is understood.”
On the 20-track album he collaborated with multi-award winning duo, Shwi Nomtekhala, and emerging artists Musiholiq and Nobuhle.
His favourite tracks on the album are Ngakithi and Feelings which he describes as extremely personal.
The multi talented Mnqobi also recently acted in roles on Erased and The River. He studied acting, completing a three year diploma in the performing arts where he focused on theatre at the Durban Film Institute.
“Acting is something that I studied for, music is something that was in me and I have a talent for, and they work together.”
Another addition to his successes, is his feature on Big Zulu’s hit song, Vuma Dlozi which can be heard blasting across speakers from radio stations and people’s homes.
Mnqobi told Scrolla.Africa that he was happy and excited about the reception of the song and that working with Big Zulu has been a blessing.
Video source: YouTube/Mnqobi Yazo
