Zulu Song Cycle

In his album Zulu Song Cycle (2019), Mhlambi explores the boundaries of creative expression by blurring the lines between European early classical music and ancient African sound traditions. His work challenges the orthodoxies of classical training and reimagines what is considered “normal” within established musical frameworks through inversion and subversion of convention.

Mhlambi has devoted extensive time to retrieving historical sounds from archives in Africa and beyond. This process has resulted in compositions that reflect multiple epochs and time zones in human evolution, weaving together musical histories across cultures and periods.

His artistic practice is deeply informed by an interest in the relationship between art and technology, which he investigates through research into African traditions of metallurgy. This interdisciplinary approach enables Mhlambi to explore artistic expertise alongside metallurgical knowledge, shaping his musical compositions in innovative and thought-provoking ways.

Central to Mhlambi’s theoretical work is the challenge of thinking beyond the colonial sound archive. Through his music, he imagines both a sonic past and a sonic future that reclaims African sound worlds while opening new possibilities for creative expression.

This performance offers audiences a powerful and intellectually engaging musical experience that bridges history, culture, and innovation.