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The debut album, Buyelekhaya, from new Afro-soul sensation and sketch artist Nathi Mankayi recently went double platinum and is fast approaching triple-platinum status. The soft-spoken musician chats to Gugulethu Mhlungu
Who is Nathi? Where did it all begin?
Nathi is a quiet guy. [Laughs shyly]. I was born in Mthatha and grew up in Maclear in the Eastern Cape. I am one of five children raised by an incredible mother.
Your big break?
In 2011 I entered a talent competition, Get Your Dreams, with my sister.
I didn’t win that year, but my sister did. I won the next year.
Sipho Nyathela [now his manager] was at the competition and heard me perform my CD.
He took the CD to Lance Stehr at Ghetto Ruff, who asked me to come up to Johannesburg.
I came up in November last year to record Nomakanjani, a rendition of MaBrr’s song, which I did with Vusi Nova. Nomakanjani did very well, and that’s really how it all got started.
Tell me about your hugely successful album, Buyelekhaya, which was recorded at Pyramid Studios in 2013.
It was pretty much done when I came to Joburg. I worked with the Jaziel Brothers and Vusi Nova. It was released in April and is almost three-times platinum. The response to the album has been amazing. Ndivuya kakhulu [I am very happy] because I made it with love.
Your song, Nomvula, is the biggest hit. Who is Nomvula?
Nomvula is the girl of my dreams, the one I want to spend my days with – umuntu olubambo lwakho [the person who’s made from your rib like Eve from Adam’s]. Her name is Nomvula because, in Xhosa culture, especially back in the day, if someone was born on a rainy day or night, they would have been named Nomvula or Zanomvula, which means ‘one that came with the rain’, and rain represented blessings. So a child born on a rainy day, uNomvula wami in this case, was a blessing. So the song is a love song to Nomvula, who I am in love with and I want in my life.
How has the move to the big city been for you?
[Laughs]. Joburg is such a big place. I’m trying to get used to the city. I’m from a rural area and Jozi is very fast and takes some getting used to. There are some amazing people who are teaching me a lot. The move has been good so far.
Who would you still like to work with?
Cassper Nyovest, Hugh Masekela, Zahara, Ringo – I really like Ringo’s music and style – and definitely Caiphus Semenya. Although, for my next album, I am very keen to work with the producers I worked with on Buyelekhaya.
They connected with me and we worked so well together
