Loliwe#Lengoma (remix)
{{About|the album|the song|Loliwe (song)}}
{{Use South African English|date=October 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Loliwe
| type = studio
| artist = Zahara
| cover = Zahara's Loliwe album cover.jpg
| alt =
| released = {{start date|df=yes|2011|09|6}}
| recorded = 2011
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = Afro-soul
| length =
| label = TS Records
| producer = {{hlist|Robbie Malinga|Mojalefa Thebe}}
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title = The Beginning Live
| next_year = 2012
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Loliwe
| type = studio
| single1 = Loliwe
| single1date = 31 August 2011
| single2 = Ndiza
| single2date = 25 November 2011
}}
}}
Loliwe (English: The Train) is the debut studio album by South African singer Zahara, released on 6 September 2011. The album's production was handled by Robbie Malinga and Mojalefa Thebe. It was supported by two singles: "Loliwe" and "Ndiza", and features a guest appearance from Georgyn Kanana. It sold over 20,000 copies and reached gold status within 72 hours of its release. Four weeks after it was released, it sold 210,000 copies in South Africa.{{cite web|title=Zahara strikes the right chord to multi-platinum|url=http://www.getnews.co.za/story?id=510|publisher=Get News|accessdate=11 January 2015}} Furthermore, Loliwe sold 350,000 copies after four months of being on the market.{{cite web|last1=Tsumele|first1=Edward|title=New sensation Zahara matches the best in the music world|url=http://www.sowetanlive.co.za/entertainment/2011/12/30/new-sensation-zahara-matches-the-best-in-the-music-world|publisher=The Sowetan|accessdate=11 January 2015|date=30 December 2011}} It is the second fastest selling album in South African history behind Brenda Fassie's Memeza, which sold over 500,000 copies.{{cite web|last=Sibiya|first=Gugu|title=Zahara's CD flies off shelves|url=http://www.sowetanlive.co.za/entertainment/2011/09/21/zahara-s-cd-flies-off-shelves|work=Sowetan Live|date=21 September 2011|accessdate=25 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120124140924/http://www.sowetanlive.co.za/entertainment/2011/09/21/zahara-s-cd-flies-off-shelves|archive-date=24 January 2012|url-status=dead}}
Background
Zahara wrote most of the songs for the album prior to signing a record deal with TS Records in August 2010.{{cite news|last=Mbonambi|first=Buhle|title=A blooming flower|url=http://www.iol.co.za/tonight/music/a-blooming-flower-1.1150341|accessdate=25 January 2012|newspaper=Independent Online|date=24 October 2011}} In her songs, she references apartheid activists like Walter Sisulu, Nelson Mandela and Helen Joseph. The title track "Loliwe" refers to the train that brought workers back home after many years of working in Johannesburg, where they often had other families.{{cite news|last=Gallafant|first=Alex|title=South Africa's Latest Pop Sensation – Zahara|url=http://www.theworld.org/2011/11/zahara-south-africa/|accessdate=25 January 2012|newspaper=PRI's The World|date=9 November 2011}} In an interview, Zahara described the album as a "metaphor" and further said, "It's like ... just pick yourself up. No matter who's your father or who's your mother ... I believe that you're not a mistake."
Singles
TS Records released the album's lead single "Loliwe" on 31 August 2011. Its accompanying music video was produced by Mastermax Films. "Ndiza" was released as the album's second single on 25 November 2011.{{cite web|title=Loliwe by Zahara|url=https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/loliwe/id462997317|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131008192234/https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/loliwe/id462997317|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 October 2013|publisher=iTunes|accessdate=22 September 2013}} Zahara describes the song as "a place one goes to make their heart pure".{{cite web|title=Interview with Zahara (OrgellaTV)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1GZkJlQuEE|via=YouTube|accessdate=24 September 2013}}{{cite web|title=OrgellaTV: Exclusive Interview With Zahara…|url=http://orgellaonline.com/2011/11/19/orgellatv-exclusive-interview-with-zahara/|publisher=OrgellaTV|accessdate=24 September 2013}} The music video for the song was also directed by Ash Dibben.
Critical reception
{{Music ratings
| align=right
| rev1 = Music Review South Africa
| rev1Score = 92/100{{cite web|title=Review: Zahara – Loliwe|url=http://www.musicreview.co.za/2012/09/07/review-zahara-loliwe/|publisher=Musicreview|accessdate=21 September 2013}}
| rev2 = MOMIX
}}
Loliwe received widespread acclaim from music critics. Simah of MOMIX gave the album an 8 out of 10, stating, "The album actually proves the opinions I've been hearing about it. And it serves as one of the most powerful debuts by a South African woman. She certainly possesses the golden touch because her talent is enough to make her shine and reach for her destiny." Claire Martens of Music Review South Africa assigned a normalized score of 92 out of 100, adding, "Set against the strumming of her guitar and the infusion of African-style beats, the music tends towards simplicity and integrity. Having said that, the album is not perfect. I thought the song "My Guitar" was her weakest offering and inappropriately placed. I also felt like the first part of album is stronger than the rest, "Umthwalo" and "Loliwe" being the pinnacle, throwing the rest of the album off kilter. Bar this, Loliwe comes close to perfection."
=Accolades=
Loliwe won Best Selling Album, Album of the Year and Best Smooth Urban Music Album at the 18th Annual South African Music Awards.{{cite web|title=THE 18TH ANNUAL MTN SOUTH AFRICAN MUSIC AWARDS AND THE WINNERS ARE...|url=http://samusicawards.co.za/profiles/blogs/the-18th-annual-mtn-south-african-music-awards-and-the-winners-ar|publisher=SAMA|accessdate=29 September 2013|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130926193637/http://samusicawards.co.za/profiles/blogs/the-18th-annual-mtn-south-african-music-awards-and-the-winners-ar|archivedate=26 September 2013}} It was nominated for Best Produced Album and won Best Female Album at the 2011 Metro FM Music Awards.{{cite web|title=2011 Metro FM Music Awards – all the winners|url=http://www.tvsa.co.za/default.asp?blogname=news&ArticleID=18338|publisher=TVSA|accessdate=29 September 2013}}{{cite web|title=AKA Dominates Metro FM Awards|url=http://www.mio.co.za/article/aka-dominates-metro-fm-awards-2011-11-28|publisher=MIO|accessdate=29 September 2013}}
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
!width="250"| Awards ceremony !width="450"| Award description(s) !width="75" | Results |
|---|
| rowspan="3"|2012
|rowspan="3"|18th Annual South African Music Awards |Best Smooth Urban Music Album |{{won}} |
| Best Selling Album
|{{won}} |
| Album of the Year
|{{won}} |
| rowspan="2"|2011
|rowspan="2"|Metro FM Music Awards |Best Produced Album |{{nom}} |
| Best Female Album
|{{won}} |
Track listing
{{Track listing
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| all_writing = Bulelwa Mkutukana, Robbie Malinga and Mojalefa Thebe
| total_length=
| title1 = Destiny
| note1 =
| writer1 = Bulelwa Mkutukana
| extra1 =
| length1 = 4:16
| title2 = Umthwalo
| note2 =
| writer2 = Bulelwa Mkutukana
| extra2 =
| length2 = 5:33
| title3 = Loliwe
| note3 =
| writer3 = Bulelwa Mkutukana
| extra3 =
| length3 = 4:32
| title4 = Xa Bendingena Mama
| note4 =
| writer4 = Bulelwa Mkutukana
| extra4 =
| length4 = 3:19
| title5 = Ndiza
| note5 =
| writer5 = Bulelwa Mkutukana
| extra5 =
| length5 = 3:23
| title6 = Incwad' Encane
| note6 = featuring Georgyn Kanana
| writer6 = Bulelwa Mkutukana and Georgyn Kanana
| extra6 =
| length6 = 5:06
| title7 = Lengoma
| note7 =
| writer7 = Bulelwa Mkutukana
| extra7 =
| length7 = 3:42
| title8 = My Guitar
| note8 =
| writer8 = Bulelwa Mkutukana
| extra8 =
| length8 = 5:30
| title9 = Thekwana
| note9 =
| writer9 = Bulelwa Mkutukana
| extra9 =
| length9 = 3:29
| title10 = Away
| note10 =
| writer10 = Bulelwa Mkutukana
| extra10 =
| length10 = 4:19
| title11 = Brand New Day
| note11 =
| writer11 = Bulelwa Mkutukana
| extra11 =
| length11 = 3:59
| title12 = Shine
| note12 =
| writer12 = Bulelwa Mkutukana
| extra12 =
| length12 = 4:40
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Bonus track
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| total_length =
| title13 = Lengoma (remix)
| note13 =
| writer13 = Bulelwa Mkutukana
| extra13 =
| length13 = 7:16
}}
Personnel
- Georgyn Kanana – Featured artist
- Robbie Malinga – Producer
- Mojalefa Thebe – Producer
Release history
| class="wikitable sortable" | |||
| Region | Date | Format | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Africa | 6 September 2011 | CD, Digital download | TS Records |