zoë modiga tells a zulu fairytale with her new album, ‘inganekwane’

Inspired by the theme of self-reflection explored on her beloved debut album Yellow: The Novel, Zoë Modiga’s anticipated sophomore offering of Inganekwane, translated “Zulu fairytale” goes further into this introspection to reveal messages of identity.

The production on Inganekwane is handled by Banda Banda and along with Zoë, they produce a melting pot of Western African rhythm, layered in folk guitars, Southern African sensibilities, heartfelt Zulu storytelling that evokes intention to transform.  

The first offering from the album, “Lengoma,” is the re-introduction to a new sound and new journey as she explores the traditional West and Southern African influences paired with communal celebratory lyrics. Featuring lead singer of Urban Village, Tubatsi Mpho Moloi, this song is for the times. A song for healing, for dancing, and truly a song for all people. 

“Much like the colour yellow connected us to the “Yellow” era [do you mean “her yellow era here?], the cow serves as the official emblem of this offering”, Zoë explains Ingakwane’s album cover: 

“As a child, I had a quiet and thoughtful disposition and I created worlds for myself as I felt quite alienated from reality very early on. I would visit my paternal grandmother where I was fascinated and drawn to the nature of cows. I would stare into the eyes of cows and watch them chewing the cud and I’d feel as though it was a moment of true divinity with an overflowing peace. I would later learn that cows bare much cultural significance by providing food and clothing, they are our sense of wealth, our sacred offering, our inspiration for song and storytelling. I realise now that truly, they are at the heart of our memory and history as a people.”

And so, Zoë chews the cud with this love letter, asking that we rise to our giant selves by remembering all that we truly are.  

The album boasts collaborations with South African Grammy-winning studio engineers, Papi Direste and Oyama Songo, American Grammy Winning mixing engineers Carlos Bedoya and Marc Urselli and Grammy-winning mastering engineer Jose Blanco.

Zoë Modiga’s Inganekwane released on June 26 on all streaming platforms.