IMilolozelo KaMama

An annual indigenous music concert celebrating Nguni folk songs

Overview

IMilolozelo KaMama means "Mother's Lullabies"—and that is exactly what this annual concert celebrates: the songs that raised us, the melodies that carried our languages across generations, and the voices that continue to sing them.

Held each year at Ed Armini in Umzimkulu, this indigenous music concert brings together well-known Nguni folk music bands and local upcoming artists who perform traditional dance and music. What began in 2022 as a small gathering has become Imilolozelo's (formerly IKhambi Writers Hub) signature event—a day of music, memory, and community that draws hundreds of attendees from across KwaZulu-Natal and beyond.

IMilolozelo KaMama is not a concert. It is a homecoming.

The Origin Story

IMilolozelo KaMama was born in the restless hours of early morning.

Kwazi Ndlangisa, founder of IKhambi Writers Hub, was awake at 3 a.m., nursing a cup of tea and a newborn daughter who refused to sleep. Desperate and exhausted, he began to sing the lullabies his grandmother had sung to him—songs he hadn't realised he still remembered.

"I thought I was soothing her," Kwazi later said. "But I was soothing myself."

The experience sparked a question: What if these songs—the lullabies, the folk tunes, the melodies that had carried Nguni languages across centuries—were celebrated publicly? What if they were given a stage, an audience, a moment of honour?

IMilolozelo KaMama was born from that question.

The Journey of IMilolozelo KaMama

Year Venue Highlights
2022 Kheswa's Junior Secondary School Inaugural concert; over 800 attendees
2023 Kheswa's Junior Secondary School Expanded programme; featured established Nguni folk bands
2025 Ed Armini (Launch) First concert at new venue; theme: "Colour of Your Skin"

The Venue: Ed Armini

In 2025, IMilolozelo KaMama moved to a new venue—Ed Armini in Umzimkhulu.

Ed Armini (which means "at the dam" in isiZulu) opened its doors in 2025 as a dedicated event venue, and the third annual IMilolozelo KaMama served as its official launch. The concert introduced this new space to the community, transforming it into a gathering place for music, culture, and connection.

The 2025 concert carried the theme "Colour of Your Skin" —a celebration of identity, diversity, and the beauty of being exactly who you are.

"Ed Armini is a new place that opened in 2025. The third annual IMilolozelo KaMama was Ed Armini's launch as the new sensational event venue in town."

— IKhambi Writers Hub

What Happens at IMilolozelo KaMama

Duration Full day (10am – sunset)
Format Live music + dance + community gathering
Location Ed Armini, Umzimkhulu
Audience All ages, all welcome

The day includes:

  • Performances by established Nguni folk music bands – Musicians who have spent decades performing at weddings, ceremonies, and cultural festivals

  • Youth performances – Local children and young people singing traditional songs and performing dance

  • Audience sing-alongs – Because at IMilolozelo KaMama, everyone is a participant, not just a spectator

  • Storytelling – Elders sharing the stories behind the songs

  • Food and craft vendors – Local entrepreneurs selling traditional food and handmade goods

  • Sunset closing – The concert ends as the sun sets behind the hills, with everyone on their feet

The Moment Everyone Remembers

There is a moment at every IMilolozelo KaMama concert when the sun begins to set behind the hills, and the music shifts. The afternoon's upbeat maskandi gives way to something slower, something older. The older women in the audience begin to hum. The children stop running and lean against their mothers' knees.

And then someone—it's always different each year—begins to sing a lullaby.

Not from the stage. From the crowd. A voice rising from somewhere in the middle of the audience, unprompted, unamplified, unafraid.

Thula thul, thula mntwana

Umama uzobuya ngeskhathi

(Hush now, hush, little child

Mother will return in time)

By the second line, fifty voices have joined. By the third, two hundred.

This is IMilolozelo KaMama.

2023: The Year the Children Sang

IMilolozelo KaMama 2023 was our second concert, and it was the year everything changed.

Every previous year, our lineup featured established Nguni folk music bands. We honour them deeply. They are the custodians of our musical heritage.

But in 2023, we did something different. We opened the stage to local youth.

Not through auditions. Not through competitive selection. We simply visited schools in the surrounding areas and asked: Who among you sings? Who dances? Who has a grandmother who taught them the old songs?

Forty-seven young people showed up to our first rehearsal.

They ranged in age from seven to twenty-two. Some were seasoned performers. Others had never performed publicly before. One boy, thirteen years old, told us he learned the songs from his great-grandmother, who is ninety-four and can no longer sing but still hums.

"She said I must sing for her now," he said.

When he performed—a haunting rendition of "Igama Lami Nguwe"—his great-grandmother sat in the front row, her lips moving silently to every word.

2025: Colour of Your Skin

The third annual IMilolozelo KaMama marked a new chapter.

Held at the newly opened Ed Armini venue, the 2025 concert carried the theme "Colour of Your Skin" —a celebration of identity and belonging. The theme invited performers and attendees alike to reflect on the beauty of diversity and the importance of embracing who you are.

The concert also served as the official launch of Ed Armini, introducing this new venue to the community as a space for cultural events, gatherings, and celebrations.

Songs We Almost Lost

Every year, we ask older community members to teach us songs from their childhoods. Every year, we encounter the same painful refrain:

"I haven't sung this since my mother died."

"I thought no one would ever want to hear this again."

"I didn't think it mattered."

It matters.

One song we documented in 2023 came from Gogo MaDlamini, aged eighty-one. She learned it from her grandmother, who learned it from hers. The song is about a girl who collects water from the river and encounters a spirit. It is part lullaby, part warning, part prayer.

Gogo MaDlamini had not sung it aloud in forty-three years.

When she finished, there was silence. Then applause. Then—unexpectedly—a young woman in the audience stood up.

"That song," she said, her voice shaking. "My grandmother used to sing that song. She passed away last year. I thought I would never hear it again."

Gogo MaDlamini wept. The young woman wept. We all wept.

Why This Matters

South Africa's indigenous music traditions are not dead. They are not dying. But they are vulnerable—vulnerable to neglect, to the assumption that they belong only to the past, to the pressure of more "modern" forms of entertainment.

IMilolozelo KaMama exists to say: These songs still matter. These voices still matter. These traditions are not relics—they are living, breathing, evolving parts of who we are.

When a child learns a lullaby from their grandmother and sings it on stage, the song becomes theirs. When an elder hears a song they thought was forgotten, rising from the voice of a stranger, the song is remembered. When a community gathers at Ed Armini and sings together as the sun sets, the song is alive.

This is how we preserve a language. Not in archives. Not in textbooks. In bodies, in voices, in the air between people who love each other.

Performers and Artists

Over the years, IMilolozelo KaMama has featured:

  • uMam'Sibongile Khumalo – Legendary Nguni folk singer

  • Izingane Zoma – Award-winning maskandi group

  • Amagugu Akwazulu – Traditional dance and music ensemble

  • Local youth choirs from schools across Umzimkhulu

  • Individual performers ranging from grandmothers to teenagers

We are always looking for musicians, dancers, and storytellers who would like to perform at future concerts. If you or someone you know would like to be involved, please contact us.

Attend IMilolozelo KaMama 2026

Date: December 2026 (exact date to be confirmed)

Time: 10:00 AM – sunset

Location: Ed Armini, Umzimkhulu

Admission: TBC

What to bring:

  • A blanket or chair to sit on

  • Sunscreen and a hat

  • Cash for food and crafts

  • Your voice (you will sing)

Getting there:

Ed Armini is located approximately 5km from Umzimkhulu town centre. Signage will be posted on the day. Limited parking is available.

How to Get Involved

Perform

If you are a traditional musician, dancer, or storyteller who would like to perform at IMilolozelo KaMama, we would love to hear from you. Email us at [email protected] with a brief introduction and a sample of your work.

Volunteer

We need marshals, drivers, hospitality support, and event assistants for our 2025 concert. Volunteering is a wonderful way to be part of the magic. Email [email protected] to express interest.

Vendor

If you sell traditional food, crafts, or other goods, we would love to have you at the concert. Vendor spaces are R200 and include a stall location. Email [email protected] for more information.

Sponsor

IMilolozelo KaMama is made possible by the support of individuals and organisations who believe in preserving indigenous music. Sponsorship opportunities are available at various levels. Contact us to discuss how you can help.

Support the Song Archive

We are building an archive of Nguni folk songs—recordings, transcriptions, and translations—to ensure these songs are preserved for future generations.

If you have a lullaby or folk song from your childhood, we would love to document it. You can:

  • Record yourself singing and email the audio file to [email protected]

  • Write down the lyrics and send them to us (include any context or memories associated with the song)

  • Invite us to record an elder in your community who carries songs that deserve to be remembered

Every song matters. Every voice counts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the concert suitable for children?

Absolutely. IMilolozelo KaMama is a family event. Children are not just welcome—they are celebrated.

What if it rains?

The show goes on! We have covered areas available. Bring an umbrella just in case.

Can I bring my own food and drinks?

Yes, though we encourage you to support our local vendors.

Is the venue accessible for people with mobility challenges?

Ed Armini is an outdoor venue with uneven ground in places. Please contact us in advance so we can assist with accessibility arrangements.

How can I find out about future dates?

Follow us on social media for announcements.

Join Us

Come to Ed Armini. Bring your mother. Bring your children. Bring the songs your grandmother taught you, even if you think you've forgotten them.

You haven't forgotten. Your voice remembers.

IMilolozelo KaMama is an annual indigenous music concert presented by Imilolozelo (formerly IKhambi Writers Hub), a Non-Profit Company dedicated to preserving indigenous languages through literary and creative arts.

Blogs

Welcome to IKhambi Writers Hub’s blog! This is where we take you straight to the midst of our cultural literally arts events where we celebrate our spirituality and everything that makes us be. If you missed it, this blog will help you feel the experience and if you were there, we will take you back every time you read our blog!

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