Latest news with #Ithemba
IOL News
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Baby Momo set to drop soul-stirring Amapiano album 'Kufezekile II' on May 23
Rising Amapiano star Baby Momo is gearing up to release his much-anticipated album Kufezekile II on May 23, with the heartfelt lead single Ithemba—featuring Dinky Kunene, Zimvo, Yanga Grenade, and Jay Sax—already generating major buzz. Riding the wave of his breakout success, Tidimatso Shika, popularly known as Baby Momo, hails from Soweto's Meadowlands and credits his upbringing and life experiences as the core inspiration behind his music. His album, Kufezekile II, goes beyond sound — it's a compelling narrative exploring spirituality, perseverance, and the triumph of hard work. With this project, Baby Momo reveals his artistic maturity, skillfully blending fresh sounds and layered production to deliver a richer, more immersive Amapiano experience that reflects his journey and evolution as a storyteller. Speaking to The Star, Baby Momo revealed that Kufezekile II holds deep personal significance for him, as it was created as a tribute to life following serious health challenges he faced in 2023. 'I relate more to this project because it was my way of appreciating life,' he shared, adding that the track Ithuba featuring Yallunder was directly inspired by that difficult period and the emotions he experienced during his recovery. Baby Momo also shared that Kufezekile II delivers a timeless sound, blending classic elements with fresh Amapiano textures to create music that will resonate now and for years to come. He hopes the album will inspire listeners to hold onto hope through life's challenges. 'With hope, your situation will eventually get better, and you will find healing,' he said. Speaking about the track Ithemba, he explained that its message is rooted in love, encouraging people to never lose hope, whether in love, dreams, or any part of life's journey. He added that the creative process behind Kufezekile II sharpened his production skills and expanded his mindset. 'It pushed me to think outside the box when creating a beat or a song,' he said. While Baby Momo prefers working alone to fully shape his ideas, often entering the studio with a complete beat, he acknowledges the value of collaboration. 'Working in a space full of creatives can be overwhelming, but it also brings fresh ideas. Sometimes I work alone, and other times I collaborate, because you learn a lot. I've realised it's important to stay open to working with all kinds of artists, big or small,' he added. The artist revealed that he has several exciting projects in the pipeline and plans to collaborate with more artists, as he continues to expand his sound and grow his presence in the music industry. 'After Kufezekile II, I will be dropping singles, and fans can also expect a young joint EP with artists I can't disclose just yet, but trust me, it's going to be a banger,' he said. The album is a deeper sonic journey, showcasing Baby Momo's growth as an artist and a storyteller. The lead single, Ithemba, features the enchanting vocals of Dinky Kunene, Zimvo, Yanga Grenade, and the smooth saxophone stylings of Jay Sax. Set to drop on May 2, Ithemba, which means hope, is a powerful anthem about resilience and emotional healing, blending lush harmonies with an irresistible groove that will captivate listeners. Watch the video here: The Star [email protected]
IOL News
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Rising amapiano star Baby Momo releases transformative album 'Kufezekile II'
Rising Amapiano star Baby Momo has released his new album Kufezekile II on May 2, featuring the lead single 'Ithemba.' The project serves as a tribute to life, resilience, and artistic evolution following his health struggles in 2023. Rising Amapiano sensation Baby Momo has dropped his highly anticipated album Kufezekile II, led by the soulful single Ithemba, featuring Dinky Kunene, Zimvo, Yanga Grenade, and Jay Sax. Riding the wave of his breakout success, Tidimatso Shika, popularly known as Baby Momo, hails from Soweto's Meadowlands and credits his upbringing and life experiences as the core inspiration behind his music. His album, Kufezekile II, goes beyond sound — it's a compelling narrative exploring spirituality, perseverance, and the triumph of hard work. With this project, Baby Momo reveals his artistic maturity, skillfully blending fresh sounds and layered production to deliver a richer, more immersive Amapiano experience that reflects his journey and evolution as a storyteller. Speaking to The Star, Baby Momo revealed that Kufezekile II holds deep personal significance for him, as it was created as a tribute to life following serious health challenges he faced in 2023. 'I relate more to this project because it was my way of appreciating life,' he shared, adding that the track Ithuba featuring Yallunder was directly inspired by that difficult period and the emotions he experienced during his recovery. Baby Momo also shared that Kufezekile II delivers a timeless sound, blending classic elements with fresh Amapiano textures to create music that will resonate now and for years to come. He hopes the album will inspire listeners to hold onto hope through life's challenges. 'With hope, your situation will eventually get better, and you will find healing,' he said. Speaking about the track Ithemba, he explained that its message is rooted in love, encouraging people to never lose hope, whether in love, dreams, or any part of life's journey. He added that the creative process behind Kufezekile II not only sharpened his production skills but also expanded his mindset. 'It pushed me to think outside the box when creating a beat or a song,' he said. While Baby Momo prefers working alone to fully shape his ideas, often entering the studio with a complete beat, he acknowledges the value of collaboration. 'Working in a space full of creatives can be overwhelming, but it also brings fresh ideas. Sometimes I work alone, and other times I collaborate, because you learn a lot. I've realised it's important to stay open to working with all kinds of artists, big or small,' he added. The artist revealed that he has several exciting projects in the pipeline and plans to collaborate with more artists, as he continues to expand his sound and grow his presence in the music industry. 'After Kufezekile II, I will be dropping singles, and fans can also expect a young joint EP with artists I can't disclose just yet, but trust me, it's going to be a banger,' he said. The album is a deeper sonic journey, showcasing Baby Momo's growth as both an artist and a storyteller. The lead single, Ithemba, features the enchanting vocals of Dinky Kunene, Zimvo, Yanga Grenade, and the smooth saxophone stylings of Jay Sax. Set to drop on May 2, Ithemba, which means hope, is a powerful anthem about resilience and emotional healing, blending lush harmonies with an irresistible groove that will captivate listeners. The Star
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Yahoo
Johannesburg's revival: From crime hub to comeback city
The view is spectacular from the top of Ponte Tower, one of the most famous buildings in the South African city of Johannesburg. Built in 1975, standing almost 200m (656 ft) tall, it's a long-established feature of the city skyline, once the tallest residential building in Africa. But like the city, it's had its ups and downs. In the 1980s it was taken over by criminal gangs, and its hollow core filled with rubbish up to 50m deep. "The building got hijacked. There were no utilities, so most of the people were actually throwing their trash right inside the building, until it reached the 14th floor," said Delight Sithole, who runs tours of the building. He added: "There were some dead bodies here, illegal firearms, drugs. The smell, I'm sure it was just horrible, just really like, hell on earth. "If you asked anybody what happens in that round building, somebody would have something interesting or scary to say about it," said Sifiso Zikhali, who works with Mr Sithole in an organisation called Dlala Nje, which means "just play" in Zulu. "People were scared of the neighbourhood," he said. Johannesburg was seen as being one of the most dangerous cities in the world. But the building turned itself around 15 years ago in the wake of the Fifa World Cup hosted in South Africa, and people started moving back in. After Covid, people returned and the building is now around three-quarters full. There is no escaping the issues that Johannesburg, and South Africa, face. Despite signs of improvement in the most recent statistics, crime is still a major issue. Crippling power cuts that plagued the city for years, known as load-shedding, came to an end almost a year ago, but now a water crisis is looming, leaving many without. A building fire in the Central Business District (CBD) killed almost 80 people in the winter of 2023, and exposed the issue of hijacked buildings, disused housing and apartments blocks that have been taken over by criminal gangs who charge people to live there. What are Johannesburg's hijacked buildings? Living in a 'hijacked' building This is an area that's been regenerated by a property company called Ithemba, which is Zulu for "hope". And it's a company that is seeing business booming in Johannesburg. A few days later, on a tour of one of Ithemba's flagship residential developments called Jewel City, senior manager Alan Tait explains the turnaround. "The demand is just phenomenal, and that demand is specifically to live in the CBD," he said. He said that the company currently leases 7,200 properties and is expected to double that over the next two years. Named after its origins as a diamond dealing district, like the Ponte building the area fell into disrepair, only to see a resurgence. "We launched Jewel City about five years ago, just as Covid was hitting. So the timing was a little bit out. But as soon as Covid lifted, the buildings filled up quite quickly," he said. As we near the edge of the development, he points out a long strip of lights under a flyover. They were put up to provide light in an area that had been dark for some time, largely due to the loadshedding affected the city. It was part of an initiative by a group called JoziMyJozi which started in 2023. One of its first projects was to light up the Nelson Mandela bridge, a centrepiece of the city, that meant people once again found it safe to use. "So the whole aim of JoziMyJozi is to bring hope back to the residents of the city," said Bea Swanepoel, CEO of the organisation, in the courtyard behind her office in Rosebank, north of the city centre. "And by bringing hope back, we need to show some visible improvements and impactful projects so that they can see there's a way out of where we are currently, and to live in the city of the future, where people can be safe and where they can thrive and where there are jobs." The group also launched the gateway project, an effort to clean up the ten main entrances to the city, and they've begun to tackle everything from potholes, to homelessness to education. Could Johannesburg one day be spoken about like London, Paris or New York? "Well, that is the intention," said Ms Swanepoel. "Much of what's happening in Joburg is due to perceptions. We have a long way to go. I mean, there's no doubt about that, but it's not impossible. We need to get up there and be the gold standard for cities in Africa." The city is due to host the G20 later this year, which will bring new investment and attention to the city. Back on 51st floor of the Ponte tower, Sifiso Zikhali gazes out of the window. Does he think Dlala Nje is succeeding in its mission? "Yes we are, because one of our biggest challenges was to get people coming here. We are now one of the city's top attractions. This is our city, and whatever we face, we need at the end to find a solution for it," he said. Cape Town's digital nomads: Where idyllic lifestyle clashes with local needs Akon City, grazing goats and a crumbling crypto dream Ponte Tower: Urban slum transformed to tourist attraction Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
BBC News
06-02-2025
- General
- BBC News
Johannesburg's revival: From South Africa's crime hub to comeback city
The view is spectacular from the top of Ponte Tower, one of the most famous buildings in the South African city of Johannesburg. Built in 1975, standing almost 200m (656 ft) tall, it's a long-established feature of the city skyline, once the tallest residential building in Africa. But like the city, it's had its ups and downs. In the 1980s it was taken over by criminal gangs, and its hollow core filled with rubbish up to 50m deep. "The building got hijacked. There were no utilities, so most of the people were actually throwing their trash right inside the building, until it reached the 14th floor," said Delight Sithole, who runs tours of the building. He added: "There were some dead bodies here, illegal firearms, drugs. The smell, I'm sure it was just horrible, just really like, hell on earth."If you asked anybody what happens in that round building, somebody would have something interesting or scary to say about it," said Sifiso Zikhali, who works with Mr Sithole in an organisation called Dlala Nje, which means "just play" in Zulu."People were scared of the neighbourhood," he said. Johannesburg was seen as being one of the most dangerous cities in the the building turned itself around 15 years ago in the wake of the Fifa World Cup hosted in South Africa, and people started moving back in. After Covid, people returned and the building is now around three-quarters is no escaping the issues that Johannesburg, and South Africa, face. Despite signs of improvement in the most recent statistics, crime is still a major issue. Crippling power cuts that plagued the city for years, known as load-shedding, came to an end almost a year ago, but now a water crisis is looming, leaving many without. A building fire in the Central Business District (CBD) killed almost 80 people in the winter of 2023, and exposed the issue of hijacked buildings, disused housing and apartments blocks that have been taken over by criminal gangs who charge people to live are Johannesburg's hijacked buildings?Living in a 'hijacked' buildingThis is an area that's been regenerated by a property company called Ithemba, which is Zulu for "hope". And it's a company that is seeing business booming in Johannesburg. A few days later, on a tour of one of Ithemba's flagship residential developments called Jewel City, senior manager Alan Tait explains the turnaround. "The demand is just phenomenal, and that demand is specifically to live in the CBD," he said that the company currently leases 7,200 properties and is expected to double that over the next two years. Named after its origins as a diamond dealing district, like the Ponte building the area fell into disrepair, only to see a resurgence. "We launched Jewel City about five years ago, just as Covid was hitting. So the timing was a little bit out. But as soon as Covid lifted, the buildings filled up quite quickly," he said. As we near the edge of the development, he points out a long strip of lights under a flyover. They were put up to provide light in an area that had been dark for some time, largely due to the loadshedding affected the city. It was part of an initiative by a group called JoziMyJozi which started in 2023. One of its first projects was to light up the Nelson Mandela bridge, a centrepiece of the city, that meant people once again found it safe to use."So the whole aim of JoziMyJozi is to bring hope back to the residents of the city," said Bea Swanepoel, CEO of the organisation, in the courtyard behind her office in Rosebank, north of the city centre. "And by bringing hope back, we need to show some visible improvements and impactful projects so that they can see there's a way out of where we are currently, and to live in the city of the future, where people can be safe and where they can thrive and where there are jobs." The group also launched the gateway project, an effort to clean up the ten main entrances to the city, and they've begun to tackle everything from potholes, to homelessness to education. Could Johannesburg one day be spoken about like London, Paris or New York? "Well, that is the intention," said Ms Swanepoel. "Much of what's happening in Joburg is due to perceptions. We have a long way to go. I mean, there's no doubt about that, but it's not impossible. We need to get up there and be the gold standard for cities in Africa." The city is due to host the G20 later this year, which will bring new investment and attention to the on 51st floor of the Ponte tower, Sifiso Zikhali gazes out of the window. Does he think Dlala Nje is succeeding in its mission? "Yes we are, because one of our biggest challenges was to get people coming here. We are now one of the city's top attractions. This is our city, and whatever we face, we need at the end to find a solution for it," he said. You may also be interested in: Cape Town's digital nomads: Where idyllic lifestyle clashes with local needsAkon City, grazing goats and a crumbling crypto dreamPonte Tower: Urban slum transformed to tourist attraction Go to external for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, external, on Facebook at BBC Africa, external or on Instagram at bbcafrica, external
