23/08/2026
MAHLABA’S LIFE (IMPILO): A JOURNEY THROUGH ROOTS,STRUGGLE AND HUMANITY
Album Review by By Trevor Mawaka
Mahlaba’s Life (Impilo) is more than a collection of songs it is a cohesive 47-minute journey through birth, struggle, love, loss, healing and wisdom.
The album opens with Wangenza, an expression of gratitude for divine intervention, and closes with Once Upon a Time, a reflection on mortality and the stories people leave behind. Between these moments, Mahlaba explores cultural identity, economic hardship, grief, material temptation and humanity.
“Life (Impilo) was designed to walk directly with the listener,” Mahlaba explains. “It is one continuous human story.”
While his acclaimed 2023 project Imizwa focused on personal emotions and his immediate surroundings, Life (Impilo) broadens the conversation. Touring, experiencing loss and connecting with people beyond Bulawayo inspired Mahlaba to examine what it means to live, love, lose and keep moving forward.
Songs such as Inkaba reconnect listeners with their roots, while Ngivuleleni becomes both a spiritual prayer and a universal plea for opportunity. Ukufa approaches death with grief, dignity and reverence, supported by Trust Samende’s expressive guitar work.
Recorded at Loud Records, the album was shaped by Erastus, who oversaw its instrumental arrangements and co-composed several tracks. Contributors include Prince Nleya, Sam Siwela, Trust Samende, Samuel Mabhena, Tiyelani Chauke, Brilliant Sithole and Vuyelwa Khumalo.
Mahlaba plans to translate the album into a live experience that is “part concert and part ceremony,” using spoken-word transitions, acoustic moments and audience participation.
With Life (Impilo), Mahlaba delivers a culturally grounded and emotionally honest body of work a powerful reminder that every life, however painful or complicated, is a story worth telling.
Life (Impilo) is available on all major streaming platforms.
FULL ARTICLE on earground.com | https://earground.com/mahlabas-life-impilo/
