Bongeziwe Mabandla Releases ‘Walila’ Prior to New Album
South African singer-songwriter Bongeziwe Mabandla has released a new single, ‘Walila’, which will be included on his forthcoming album, Ndingubani. The album is scheduled for release on June 11, 2026.
The release of ‘Walila’ follows the earlier singles ‘Yilwa’ and ‘Zama’, and coincides with the start of pre-orders for Ndingubani.
Mabandla wrote ‘Walila’ in collaboration with Tiago Correia-Paulo. The artist stated the song examines concepts of karma, responsibility, and emotional confrontation through narrative and humor.
“Walila is a theatrical and humorous reflection on karma, the idea that our actions always find their way back to us,” Mabandla said. “The song came to me while playing guitar and thinking about how people eventually face the consequences of what they’ve done. I wanted to express that idea simply but vividly, which is where the phrase ‘new releases’ came from.”
The song originated as a guitar piece and then developed into a story-based composition, influenced by Mabandla’s experience in theatre.
“My theatre background really shaped the storytelling in this song,” he said. “I imagined a moment of finally facing someone who had wronged me, with the truth unfolding in front of everyone. Even though the theme is about injustice, the song carries a playful and dramatic energy.”
He further explained: “Walila is ultimately about justice, balance and the beauty of karma over time. It’s funny, bold and quite different from the more uplifting songs I usually write.”
Mabandla has received both a Metro FM Award and a Feather Award and is known for his combination of Afro-soul, folk music, and songwriting focused on storytelling. Ndingubani is anticipated to build on the themes of identity, vulnerability, and self-reflection present in his previous work.
The single’s release precedes the official album launch in June.
The creation of ‘Walila’ involved contributions from Muvhango Ndou, Bakang Mokgautsi, Satiate Chauke, Shaked Khuzwayo, and Sisi Nkabinde. This is similar to the collaborative spirit seen in Gigi LaMayne Releases New Collaborative Single.
As a rising artist, Mabandla’s journey is reminiscent of I’m a 17-Year Old Concert Producer.
