Aneliswa returning to their former glory as if they never left
Anele Mxakaza and Neliswa Makhubela, a 29-year-old Afro-pop duo from Durban, are back together and prepared to take back their place in the music business with their new album, Is'fungo.
The dynamic twin duo Aneliswa—made up of Anele and Neliswa, who first captured the nation’s attention on SA Idols—has released their highly anticipated new EP, "Is’fungo,". Picture credit: Instagram @aneliswamusic
JOHANNESBURG - After four years out of the spotlight, the pair, who were initially highlighted in the 2013 Idols SA Top 33, are returning to their former glory as if they never left.
Anele Mxakaza and Neliswa Makhubela, a 29-year-old Afro-pop duo from Durban, are back together and prepared to reclaim their place in the music business with their new album, Is'fungo.
Anele is a member of Joyous Celebration, while Neliswa, who recently got married, and joined Discovery Music.
Aneliswa, who is well-known for their emotive delivery and melodic vocals, takes listeners on a personal musical adventure with their most recent endeavour.
The EP is a fearless declaration of love, dedication, and the strength of promises. It was independently released under their own label, Aneliswa Music.
"Is'fungo," which translates to "a promise," is a poignant compilation of songs on emotional connection and the value of keeping one's word. Throughout, the twins' distinctive harmonies, heartfelt melodies, and relatable lyrics are evident, signaling a major advancement in their creative development.
Eyewitness News had a chat with the duo
When did both of you know that being musicians could become a full-time gig for you?
We never had to sit down and decide to pursue music as a career since it comes naturally to us. Something is ingrained in us. That is the only thing we have ever imagined doing. Music has always been something we have no doubt about, even though we do have other hobbies. It's the best dream ever.
Life after SA Idols and losing a parent
After Idols, our lives were just a lot of confusion and disarray. At first, we believed that our exposure was the start of amazing prospects and a new chapter in our lives. But regrettably, when everything with the false prophet occurred, things took a different course, and we ended up imprisoned and without our freedom.
We were at last free after our mother had worked so hard for us, and we made an effort to return to the music industry. We changed our name to Amali and released our first single, "Take Me Back," in 2020. When COVID struck, things did not proceed as planned.
However, we remained optimistic and carried on creating music.
After nearly four years apart, what were the reasons for their separation?
Actually, we have been working together and have never been apart. The only difference is that we both chose to join other bands; Neliswa eventually joined Discovery Music, while Anele joined Joyous Celebration. We took that action to advance our trade and gain more knowledge about the business and industry aspects.
What’s the inspiration behind the new EP, 'Is’fungo' and what can your fans take from it?
IS’FUNGO is inspired by our life in Christ, our life experiences and love. We gave our EP this name not only because most of the songs are about weddings, but it’s a promise to ourselves that we will always put our trust in God no matter what.
It’s a promise that now that we’ve begun this music journey. We will not stop and we will fight till we make it. It’s also a promise that we will give love wherever we go no matter what.
What can we expect from you going forward?
We want to experiment and don't want to be limited to a single genre; therefore our fans can anticipate many more collaborations with musicians from many genres.