Mandisa Nduna reintroduced as ZuluMecca, has spent the better half of a decade punctuating her coming of age manuscript as her artistic journey is predicated by her spiritual life. While her multi-award-winning acting life birthed classics ranging from Stillborn, Half the Sky, and She is King, among others, her music career took longer to materialise. Situated in a loft floor office with her signature wine, water and sage, ZuluMecca opens up to Label Head Vaughn Theil about her experiences.
Music has always carried an air of uncertainty for Mecca. Be it the traumatic record deal that stripped her of her previous catalogue and alias to the long wait to find an institution supporting her vision, acting became a medium that offers safety and security. Financially acting pays the bills; spiritually, acting became a veil that shields the home of her being from unprovoked access by embodying the lives of characters and roles she played.
“With acting, I am everybody else, in the characters I play, with music, I am myself." – ZuluMecca
Crystalizing the ethos of Socrates “Know Thyself” quote was one of the most organic EP rollouts of our recent history. “Of Healing (Alternate Version)” and “Of Angels” Instagram videos set the tone for the full-circle moment of coming home to self and inviting the audience to the intimate parts of her soul. As the Mecca-verse expanded with the release Of Angels and Ancestors EP, “Holy Waters (Mama’s Prayer)”, “Food and Liquor (Feat. Stogie T”, and “Good Gods Freestyle”; so did the Global fascination with her pen that caught the likes of Youtube reactor StevebussaGS.
"I am going to take this African spirituality that is me, that I don't just rap about that is me, I am I am going to take it to the world, and I might not bring anything new to people who already know(African spirituality)”, but I will bring everything new to people who don’t know (African spirituality)." – ZuluMecca
ZuluMecca’s life’s work is crested on the premise of pushing the envelope concerning the makings of a rapper. The subconscious policing of how a rapper is supposed to look or the subject matter of their lyrical content is a pain point Mecca intends to contest with her forthcoming project, which she teased with a luscious freestyle to close off the announcement video.
Watch The Announcement Video Here:
ZuluMecca wastes no time as a [STAY LOW] Signee as she surprises fans with a new EP, FABLE due on the 18th February 2022. FABLE. features production from Shooterkhumz and Mars Baby (who is subsequently featured on "HEAD OVER HEALING") and mixing and mastering by Herc Cut The Lights.
Tracklist:
01. DO YOU GET BITCHES (Prod. Shooterkhumz)
03. STARVING (Prod. Mars Baby)
Given the pivotal momentum of releases [STAY LOW] has had over the past year, fans can expect FABLE. to be a placeholder for the legacy yet to be embedded in ZuluMecca’s Discography.
Connect with ZuluMecca
Twitter: @ZuluMecca
Instagram: @zulumecca
Facebook: @ZuluMecca