Khanyile addresses social issues through his single
Th artist hopes to heal the wounds of many swallowed by the city life.
Ntuthuko Khanyile aims to address social issues through platforms beyond paper and a pen as he combines music with poetry.
The Durban originator, who has been in the entertainment space for more than a decade, started in Umlazi, Durban, where he studied arts and drama.
He recently emerged from the streets of Germiston where he currently resides as the musical poet and released his comeback single after several years.
Before he went into the shadows, he released a kwaito/house album, which was not successful, according to Khanyile.
ALSO READ: Some vaccinations sites operate on Sunday in Ekurhuleni
“A lot happened during my music career, which eventually saw me disappear into the grey areas and step away from the industry,” said Khanyile.
In the early days, he worked with the likes of the legendary 2010 Imoto etshontsha imali hitmaker Professor while he drew inspiration for his poetry from Mzwakhe Mbuli.
“My poetry has always been driven by the desire to educate, inform, heal and entertain,” he said.
He is currently working on his EP titled the Product of my Environment (POME) with the promotional single already out on YouTube under the title The City of Johannesburg N Da Unwritten
Letters (The City of Johannesburg and the Unwritten Letters).
“This single addresses the psychological status of one who has left home ages ago to go to the city with the hope of getting opportunities and acquiring a better life.
“The poem narrates the fact that though many had come to the city with dreams for a better life, Igoli (Johannesburg) has, in turn, victimised them into failures and homeless people.
“The visuals narrate a man tempting to write a letter to send home but his handshakes as tears slowly fall down his cheek. He feels like a failure while the city slowly devours him, what was supposed to be a letter results in a letter filled with sadness and tears,” said Khanyile.
The project aims to address inequality, socio-economic dilemmas and comment on townships’ inner politics.
The EP will be released in September with the single streaming on YouTube under the stage name The Ghetto Priest.
Contact the newsroom by emailing: Marietta Lombard (Editor) germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za, or (Journalists) Busi Vilakazi busiv@caxton.co.za
