Actor, singer, rapper and filmmaker Phila Madlingozi will perform in the first Jazz Afro Sundays of 2019 at the PE Opera House on Sunday February 3.
Many television viewers will remember the KwaDwesi-born performer for his role as Zolile, a handsome student at the centre of a love triangle in the television drama Intersexions.
However, despite his acting fame, music – and singing in particular – is his first love.
After making the Idols SA top 16 in 2015, along with fellow Eastern Cape contestants Loyiso Gijana and Amanda Antony (now Amanda Black), Madlingozi knew music this was what made his heart soar.
Although his family moved to Johannesburg when he was in high school, he moved back to Nelson Mandela Bay at the end of 2017 and in 2018 he planned to present a live music show called Free Phila covering several musical genres.
Part of the move was his family background: Phila is the son of Ringo Madlingozi, the “king” of African pop and a household name in traditional music-loving families across the country.
The younger Madlingozi has always made it clear however that he has wanted to make it on his own terms even though he comes from a talented musical family – Mxolisi Lokwe, also known as MXO, is his uncle.
“I’ve always known that I would have to speak up for myself everywhere I go because of who my father is, so this is my way of trying to free myself from the ‘Ringo’s son’ tag that is always with me,” Madlingozi said at the time.
“I have my father’s support in everything I do but I prefer to do things my way.
"I just want to be me ... I am glad I finally have my own voice and I feel like I have a lot to say, something that I will be able to do through my music.”
Father and son have rarely performed with each other but in 2017 they shared the stage in the Ekurhuleni Comes Alive Jazz Evening, the first time Ringo had performed alongside Phila.
In 2018 Phila won win a Golden Horn award for Best Achievement in Original Music/Score in a TV Drama for Isikizi season two, in the South African Film and TV awards (Saftas) at Sun City.
“But music is where it all started; it gave me the confidence to come out as an entertainer,” he said in an interview with the Herald in 2018. last year.
“I want to focus more on my music.”
Madlingozi ’s singles Bawo, Cinderella, Isikizi and more are available on digital music platforms.
Even though Sunday’s show is jazz-centred, the audience can expect hip-hop, soul, R&B, house, gospel and perhaps even more.
Tickets are R70 (R50 for pensioners) and the show starts at 5pm. Inquiries: Cingiwe Skosana, e-mail: cingiwe.skosana@gmail.com, or Nomgcobo Mkize at nomgcobo.mkize@gmail.com, or call 041-586-2256.