Album Title: My Hero

Genre: Gospel

Year of Release: 2009

‘My Hero’ is the 30^th studio album from multi-award-winning gospel songstress, Rebecca Malope. It comes as a double album, featuring 20 tracks in both vernacular (Zulu) and English. The album was produced by Sizwe Zako, her discoverer and longtime mentor. Together they craft a typical Rebecca Malope project that blends up-tempo instrumentation, soulful rhythms and spiritual lyrics.

One of the best tracks off the album, ‘Let me come to you’ was composed by the late Vuyo Mukoena, with whom she made numerous hits in the 90s. The song takes the praise and worship style and really adds weight to the first disk, all thanks to her sorrowful voice and an emotional string accompaniment.

Rebecca manages to maintain momentum on the second disk, which fires off with the well-arranged song, ‘Mama’. She sings about her mother and laments on how she misses her love.The album also contains other interesting tracks that don’t quite reach the heights of the aforementioned songs, but which are still enjoyable listening such as ‘Sondelani’, “king of Kings’, ‘In your arms’ and ‘Africa’.

The success of My Hero is yet to be determined but it will likely find her more awards this year. This is because she not only has a huge loyal following and a respectable name in the gospel scene, but also because a 30^th album is a rare achievement in the local industry. There is nothing extraordinary on this album but her experience allows her to maintain the same message and sound for which she’s lured loads of listeners over the years.

Cover/Art: 3.5/5 | Sound/Technical: 4/5 | Rating: 7/10

How is the latest album doing?

Lundi: It’s been doing great and I am very pleased with it.

What are you doing to promote it?

Lundi: Well, we did a lot of promotional events last year but right now I’m busy with other things and I cannot fully commit to massive promotions.

Which other things are you doing?

Lundi: I am currently helping other artists and also helping impoverished children in the country and I have also committed myself to furthering my education.

You have collaborated with a lot of musicians to date, is there anyone you still wish to work with?

Lundi: I’d love to work with Rebecca Malope again. I really wish to do a full album with her in the future.

Are you planning to release another album soon?

Lundi: Yes, that’s the idea and I’m very happy that everything is going according to plan. My next album will be released early next year.

What would you say has been your best album so far?

Lundi: All of them, I always put my best effort and I love how they all sound.

Any message for your fans?

Lundi: I’m very grateful. They’ve been with me all these years and I really appreciate it.