Based : Port Elizabeth

Asanda Mqiki is “a true Afro-Soul revelation with an insane amount of control over her notes”.  Her music vibrates with visceral emotion, bringing together a range of influences from afro-funk, jazz, soul & traditional genres such as mbaqanga to create a signature sound that is topped only by her phenomenally powerful vocals.

Some career highlight shows include headlining the Cape Town Festival with Vicky Sampson and Jimmy Nevis, and performing at the Oppikoppi & National Arts festivals.  Internationally, she has twice performed by invitation at the Gothenberg Culture Festival in Sweden (2014 & 2015), and in 2018 at the Centro Cultural Franco-Moçambicano in Maputo, Mozambique. She was also the featured African artist for the inaugural online Lovebusk festival, organised out of Australia in 2016.

She has performed across South Africa at premier venues such as The Orbit (JHB), The Chairman (Durban), the PE Opera House, Harringtons (CPT) and Jazz in the Native Yards (CPT).

Her talent has been recognised with distinctions including:
*       Selected as one of the Top 5 of the espAfrika espYoungLegends in October 2017
*       Winner of a Gold Ovation Award at the National Arts Festival 2015
*       Winner of the Eastern Cape MEC award for Best Individual Performer 2015

Prior to launching her solo career, Asanda performed regularly with platinum-selling a capella group The Soil.  She was also lead vocalist for the band Take Note, with whom she released 2 albums and performed at SA festival Joy of Jazz. She has shared the stage and collaborated with artists such as the legendary Sibongile Khumalo, Freshlyground, Khaya Mahlangu, Bongeziwe Mabandla, Putuma Tiso & Berita.

“Emotive and sassy, exuding a jazzy persona unlike anything I’ve seen, she was my best vocal performance of the weekend”. – Texx & the City

Asanda Mqiki will be releasing her first solo album in 2018.

 

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