FREERIDDIM LOUNGES WITH PORT ELIZABETH BASED, ACOUSTIC SOUL BAND USIBA NONCWADI. THE FOUR MAN TEAM GAVE US A SNEAK PEEK INTO THEIR LIVES, REVEALING NOT ONLY WHO THEY ARE, BUT ALSO TAKING US ON A HIGHLY HUMOROUS SPIRITUAL JOURNEY THROUGH MUSIC...LET’S GET NCWADIFIED!

Q: When was Usiba Noncwadi founded?

the band was formed  mid September 2005.

Q: What brought about the idea to form a band?

there was no idea really, Ohayv and Hodiel were friends and this other day Hodiel was practising guitar and Ohayv mistakenly wrote a song on it…and we had one performance as a duo then other members came in…

Q: Who are the members of the band and what are their roles?

we listen to different sounds, but we have our common [play]ground which is soul and hip-hop, some listen to rock, and some like Earl Klugh/Zim Ngqawana for jazz and some listen to Ncandweni and some gospel…and yeah reggae too…we hope we makin’ sense. When we get together we become us [iba noncwadi].

Q: How many albums has the band released?

In technical terms, one full-length album titled Ncwadification.alive which was recorded live @the Opera house in 2008…and before that we had a Sondela single in 2006, and Dedication[s] EP in 2007…and we are working on our second album called “The foreword experience”.

Q: What source of energy does the band draw inspiration from?

God, Abba Ben Ammi and all relevant studies, and also we get inspiration from our Hebrew Israelite community…they are a very good people..happiest people ever…they have the best jokes in the world…in fact they are just out of this world…(laughing already).

Q: When not in the band, what do the members get up to in their spare time?

Spare time-huh?  Reading and makin’ casual visits and some go to work (job) on their spare time. We don’t go out much, but we go into in-depth study, researches and learning the secrets that life has to offer.

Q: Where has the band gone to for tours?

Cape Town, Grahamstown (Natinal Arts Festival), East London, and Alice. After this I realize we haven’t toured much. But the whole world awaits to be Ncwadified.

Q: Who has been the biggest act that the band has performed with?

I don’t know whose bigger than who between Ringo, Chomee, Don Laka, Mafikizolo, Judith Sephuma, Vusi Mahlasela, and Gloria Bosman?

Q: Tell me more about the shows in P.E.

families are cool, they aight they support us ..through brokenness and momentary riches… they use to borrow us bus fares to gigs and we pay them back..good business ethics are upheld very highly during our dealings…and contracts are signed.

Q: Is there a partnership between the band and Umhlobo Wenene FM, and what is the relationship between these two?

we do not really have a partnership with UWFM. I think they forget that we even exist sometimes. I think they have too many family commitments to worry about play listing us[iba noncwadi]…but Luckeez umfowethu is really holding us[iba noncwadi] up every time he gets a chance. Saliso Slyso is a soldier.We are played during the day because the CD is live…someone said this to me (can’t remember who though).

Q: What other projects is the band working on?

we are working on our different solo projects i.e. Hodiel (a.k.a wordsuntame) is busy with his second album called ‘Formal Slang’ and Ohayv is busy with “..a simple writings LP” and Yahav is busy with the Sons Of Law crew alongside Geel the president and Seemkhai is busy making shoes.

Q: How do fans receive the band?

fans love the band …even if they didn’t, I don’t think will tell the truth. We are a truthful people and we tell that they love and respect the band. Ncwadification is in their hearts and mind all the time.

Q: How do you view the media and its relationship with music?