This month we shine the spotlight on Tribe of Afro, a musical duo consisting of Cuelindo (Lindokuhle Makhaye) and Sbonzahr (Bongumusa Mhlongo) who are both from Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu Natal. The Afro House duo was brought together by their love for music in 2016. Since then they have released songs like “Umzilikazi” and “Umshini" which were released in 2019 and 2020 respectively. They have been performing on events and now have residency on Gagasi FM Noma Yin Mix show every Wednesday. YOUFF got to catch up with them.

Q1. WHEN WAS THE FIRST TIME YOU REALISED THAT MUSIC IS WHAT YOU WANTED TO DO AS A CAREER AND WHAT WAS THE TURNING POINT OF YOUR CAREER?

CUELINDO: I DEVELOPED MY LOVE FOR MUSIC DURING THE ERA OF ISGUBHU WHEN I USED TO BE AROUND DJS AND PRODUCERS IN SOBANTU WHERE I GREW UP.

SBONZAHR: I STOPPED BEING A LISTENER AND STARTED TO APPRECIATE MUSIC AS AN ART IN 2010. I REALISED I HAD TALENT FOR IT WHEN I STARTED PRODUCING AND BEING A DJ IN 2012.

THE TURNING POINT FOR TRIBE OF AFRO WAS PERFORMING AT THE PIETERMARITZBURG JAZZ FESTIVAL. THE RECEPTION FROM THE CROWD (WHICH WAS THE BIGGEST CROWD WE’VE EVER BEEN IN FRONT OF) WAS UNBELIEVABLE AND THE MOMENTUM WE TOOK FROM THERE IS WHAT HAS BROUGHT US TO THIS POINT.

Q2. DO YOU THINK TALENT ALONE CAN HELP YOU SUCCEED IN THE  MUSIC INDUSTRY OR DO YOU THINK GETTING EDUCATION TO BACK UP TALENT IS AS IMPORTANT?

TALENT WILL GET YOU MAKING MUSIC, BUT EDUCATION WILL KEEP YOU IN THE MUSIC BUSINESS. YOU CAN MAKE MUSIC AS A HOBBY BUT IF YOU WANT TO DO IT AS A CAREER AND MAKE MONEY FROM IT, EDUCATION IS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY ELEMENTS AND DIFFERENT ASPECTS TO THE BUSINESS OF MUSIC THAT YOU NEED TO KEEP EDUCATING YOURSELF ON. THERE ARE MANY EXAMPLES OF PEOPLE WHO ARE NO LONGER IN THE INDUSTRY BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT BEING TALENTED WAS ALL IT TAKES.

Q3. IF THERE WAS ONE THING YOU COULD CHANGE ABOUT SOUTH AFRICAN MUSIC INDUSTRY, WHAT WOULD IT BE? WHY?

THE NEED FOR ARTISTS TO HAVE AN ESTABLISHED NETWORK OR KNOW AT LEAST ONE PERSON WHO BACKS THEM AND OPENS UP HIS NETWORK IN ORDER FOR THEM TO MAKE IT. THERE IS A LOT OF CRONYISM THAT HAPPENS IN THE BACKGROUND WHERE MANY “LESS DESERVING” ARTISTS GET THE SPOTLIGHT VS THE UNDISCOVERED GEMS.