This is a story about Black boys falling in love, doing their very best trying to pass through Black time. Umle is a duo of artists from Qeberha who capture the lives of Black folks through a reflection on the magnificence of the ordinary. Black kasi love and an honouring of old souls enhance their recently released album titled Abantwana Belanga.
Apart from the magnetic sound that the body of work holds, Abantwana Belanga tells tales of the complex suffering of our existence. It clothes this very condition with dignity and deep meaningful love. It addresses the contradictions of our pain riddled ghettos through odes to the unsung heroes of our townships. With overt gentleness, affection and light we see Black men live in colour through their sight. We love these boys, ama ou wethu.
Experience their Black sonic stories first-hand today (26/02/2022) at Mangrove alongside The Brother Moves On and Urban Village as they open the monthly series that will be hosted by Akum Agency titled A Re Iketleng. The business of the day does not end there. We are given an opportunity to feel Black love, live in it and embody it. This is for lovers of truth and song, or much rather as they and Credo Mutwa would call it bantwana belanga.
Abantwana Belanga – Acoustic tour
State Theatre – 12 March 2022 (PTA)
Private Room – 19 March 2022 (PE)
Selective Hearing – 25 March 2022 (CPT)
Naïve Rebels – 01 April 2022 (JHB)
Mangrove – 02 April 2022 (JHB)
Uhuru - 03 April 2022 (JHB)
Sir Anthony – 23 April 2022 (JHB)
On a different day we would call them Black boy joy, but if we understand Black time, we will note their magnitude in our real time.
