Dlodloba Launches New Solo Journey With Umnqobi Ahead of Walk Like a Star EP
Khulekani “Dlodloba” Sibanda, the founder of multi-award-winning Imbube group Amaqaqa, is opening an exciting new chapter in his musical career with the release of Umnqobi, the first single from his forthcoming five-track EP, Walk Like a Star. The new project gives the Filabusi-born musician an opportunity to explore fresh musical ideas while remaining deeply connected to African cultural traditions. Through a distinctive blend of traditional Nguni vocals, African rhythms and live instrumentation, Dlodloba aims to create a sound that celebrates the continent’s musical identity. His latest creative direction reflects an ambition he has carried for years, allowing him to explore musical territory beyond the Isicathamiya style associated with Amaqaqa. With Umnqobi introducing the project, the musician is also using his solo platform to share a personal message about perseverance, faith, ambition and overcoming adversity.
Walk Like a Star is a five-track EP designed to push the boundaries of African music through a combination of traditional vocal expression and instrumental experimentation. Dlodloba plans to incorporate instruments such as the djembe, guitar, flute and violin, bringing different textures into a sound built around African rhythms and cultural influences. The project also draws inspiration from African proverbs, which often communicate important lessons about life, identity, responsibility and personal growth. By combining these traditional elements with instrumental arrangements, he hopes to create music that feels both culturally grounded and creatively progressive. His approach demonstrates a desire to preserve African musical heritage while exploring new possibilities for contemporary African music.
For Dlodloba, the forthcoming EP represents the fulfilment of a musical ambition that dates back several years. Before establishing Amaqaqa, he had already explored his interests as a solo musician, releasing his debut album, Shwele Baba, in 2017. Although he initially wanted to record music centred on African rhythms, he ultimately pursued Maskandi for that first solo project. He now sees Walk Like a Star as an opportunity to revisit the creative direction he had originally envisioned. Speaking about his journey, Dlodloba explained that he wanted to create something different from Isicathamiya while maintaining the cultural authenticity that defines his musical identity.
“In 2017, I wanted to record African rhythms, something that came directly from my heart, but I ended up recording Maskandi on my first solo album, Shwele Baba. I wanted to sing something different from Isicathamiya, but still preserve the true essence of African culture. This year, I promised people that I would give them something under Dlodloba Music, which I have done,” he said.
The decision to release the five songs in phases allows each track to receive individual attention while gradually introducing audiences to the complete creative vision behind Walk Like a Star. The rollout begins with Umnqobi, a song that carries particular emotional significance for the musician. Although he describes the entire EP as a deeply personal project, he considers the lead single a reflection of his own struggles and achievements. The song captures his experiences in the music industry, including moments of betrayal, criticism and discouragement. Rather than allowing those challenges to define his journey, Dlodloba uses the single to celebrate his determination and the opportunities he believes have come through faith.
“Although all the songs come from the deepest part of my heart, Umnqobi is my testimony, my fight and my victory. I have been through a lot in the music industry. I have been betrayed, looked down upon and received negative messages, but God has lifted me in ways I could never have imagined,” he said.
The message behind Umnqobi extends beyond Dlodloba’s personal experiences and speaks directly to young people pursuing their ambitions. Through the song, he wants to encourage young men and women to develop a clear vision for their lives and remain committed to achieving their goals. He believes that criticism, negative opinions and discouraging comments should not prevent people from pursuing their dreams. The single therefore carries a message of resilience, self-belief and determination, reminding listeners that personal progress often requires patience and consistency. By turning his own experiences into an inspirational musical statement, Dlodloba hopes the song will connect with audiences facing challenges in their own lives.
“I want to encourage young boys and girls to have a vision and pursue their dreams. As they work towards their goals, they must not be distracted by what people say behind closed doors. The message is that if you hold on to your dream, you can conquer,” he said.
The response to Umnqobi has also provided encouraging signs for the new solo direction. According to Dlodloba, the single has received positive feedback in Zimbabwe and neighbouring South Africa, where it has been played on radio stations. This cross-border reception is significant for an artist whose musical identity is closely connected to African cultural expression and traditional vocal styles. Zimbabwe and South Africa share several musical and cultural influences, creating opportunities for artists to connect with audiences across national boundaries. The encouraging response gives Dlodloba an opportunity to introduce his solo sound to a wider audience while building interest in the forthcoming EP.
Despite the new solo venture, Dlodloba has been quick to dismiss suggestions that his individual musical ambitions could affect his commitment to Amaqaqa. The multi-award-winning Imbube ensemble remains an important part of his professional and creative identity. He describes the group as the foundation of his musical career and maintains that Amaqaqa and Dlodloba Music serve different but complementary purposes. His solo work provides room to explore instrumental arrangements and express personal creative ideas, while Amaqaqa continues to represent the collective vision that inspired its formation. For him, the two projects are not competing brands but different expressions of the same broader musical journey.
“Amaqaqa and Dlodloba are not in competition. They are in alignment. I recorded under Dlodloba Music before I founded Amaqaqa. I will always respect my calling through Amaqaqa because it carries the true vision I had for the group. With Dlodloba, I am expressing my feelings and talent through instrumental music,” he said.
His explanation highlights the different roles that the two musical platforms play in his career. Amaqaqa represents collective performance, cultural heritage and the spiritual and communal values associated with Imbube music. Dlodloba’s solo identity, on the other hand, gives him greater freedom to experiment with instruments, arrangements and contemporary interpretations of African rhythms. Rather than abandoning the traditions that shaped his reputation, he wants to use his individual platform to explore how those traditions can evolve. This approach creates room for artistic growth without weakening his connection to the group that helped establish his name in the music industry.
Dlodloba offered a particularly striking description of the relationship between the two projects, explaining that Amaqaqa represents the foundation while his solo work provides an opportunity to introduce new creative ideas. He said, “Amaqaqa is the house. It represents heritage, harmony and ministry to the people. Dlodloba is the new meal served from that same pot, the innovation, the experiment and the sound that pushes our culture forward.” He also made it clear that Amaqaqa would continue touring, teaching and performing while his solo identity would serve as a creative space for developing new sounds. This distinction suggests that he sees his individual work as an extension of his musical responsibilities rather than a replacement for his established group. It also reflects his desire to contribute to the development of African music for younger generations.
The creative direction behind Walk Like a Star arrives at an important time for African music, as artists continue exploring ways to preserve traditional sounds while reaching contemporary audiences. Across the continent, musicians are increasingly finding opportunities to combine indigenous languages, traditional instruments and modern production approaches. Dlodloba’s interest in Nguni vocals, African proverbs and instruments such as the djembe, flute and violin places cultural expression at the centre of his new project. His intention is not simply to experiment with different sounds but to create music that communicates African identity and carries meaningful messages. By drawing from cultural knowledge and personal experiences, he hopes to produce songs that remain relevant beyond their immediate entertainment value.
The use of African proverbs is another important feature of the EP’s creative vision. Proverbs have traditionally played an important role in African communities by passing knowledge, values and practical lessons from one generation to another. Incorporating these ideas into music gives artists an opportunity to preserve cultural expressions while presenting them in a format that younger audiences can appreciate. For Dlodloba, this approach creates a connection between musical innovation and the wisdom embedded in African traditions. It also gives Walk Like a Star a thematic foundation that goes beyond instrumental experimentation, positioning the project as an expression of cultural identity, personal growth and artistic purpose.
Dlodloba’s journey from releasing Shwele Baba in 2017 to establishing Amaqaqa and now developing Walk Like a Star reflects an artist who continues to explore different dimensions of his musical identity. His experience in Maskandi and Imbube has given him a foundation from which to approach his latest creative ambitions. The new EP provides an opportunity to combine those experiences with a broader instrumental sound that reflects his interest in African rhythms and contemporary musical possibilities. Umnqobi serves as an introduction to that direction while communicating a message that is deeply connected to his personal journey. As anticipation builds around the remaining songs, listeners will have an opportunity to discover how the full five-track project develops this musical vision.
With Umnqobi, Khulekani “Dlodloba” Sibanda is making a statement about perseverance, cultural pride and the freedom to grow as an artist. His forthcoming Walk Like a Star EP promises a fresh exploration of African music through traditional Nguni vocals, diverse instrumentation and meaningful storytelling. At the same time, his commitment to Amaqaqa demonstrates that artistic expansion does not have to come at the expense of established musical responsibilities. Instead, he is creating two complementary platforms that allow him to serve audiences through collective Imbube performances and individual musical experimentation. For Dlodloba, this new chapter is about honouring his roots while creating something meaningful for the next generation, and Umnqobi provides a powerful starting point for that journey.
