Jabulile Majoli’s Ipasi Album Launch
- Arrival -
For any show, I tend to arrive too early. When the stage is still humming with the soundcheck-buzz.
For Jabulile Majola’s Ipasi album listening, however, I entered with a subtle anxiety; that of stepping into an unknown space, made a home by friendly souls.
Ipasi, Majola’s response to his debut album, Isitifiketi, is a more expansive and emotionally exploratory album as compared to his previous projects. He described the process of making this album as being a very humbling one, and that is evident in the vulnerability of his voice throughout.
Both of these albums are named in reference to documents granting passage into a new phase or different environment - both Majola’s testament of growth. Sharing this acknowledgement of inner-flourishing, we are taken along this path that he has been learning from for all his life.
“I think one thing that has happened to me in the making of this album, from the beginning to the end, is that I've been in a humbling process in just about everything. I think from as far as where my life is at, in the way in which I approach music as well, it's been a very amazing journey.
One of the things that was very real for me is the reality of how life continues even when death has happened. You know, life doesn't wait for anybody. Life waits for nothing. It just continues. And I think that's what makes life beautiful, because it actually makes a space for death, but it doesn't stop. It continues. So I think this is one of the things that humbled me the most in this experience.”
- Dawn into Day into Night -
Indistinct chatter became warm laughter, settling into a welcome applause, until finally becoming intentional listening.
After opening with Umuzi Okhanyayo (Libo) - meaning lighthouse - we were lifted into Ubukho Bakhe, a celebration of companionship and the rebirth that comes with fatherhood. This song features the blossoming Thando Zide and is sung for his wife (who sat in the crowd, beaming with life) as a cry of devotion of the love felt when she is present.
Mandla was the following track, telling a story about a lethargic man struggling through life’s trials. Majola implores the Lord to help him and give him strength so that he may rise again, as we must all sink down below to see what there is to reach for. And what there always is to reach for is Hope. In Majola’s words “hope builds grit”, and although it is a feeling directed towards the future, it is too an appreciation of the possibility to do so in the present moment.
To preserve the treat that is listening to the album in its entirety for the first time, I will only share my thoughts on one more track, Baba Wethu, Our Father. Co-written with his oldest brother, it is an acceptance of the realisation of being at the mercy of the Divine. We can decide, and plan, and make whatever changes are needed, but throughout it all there is a silent orchestrator with whom we are co-creating, and that we should always keep in mind.
- Gratitude -
As the final track finished, Majola extended his thanks to everyone in the room, and I’m sure he felt it directed back towards him. From him flowed the wisdom that no matter how much we’d like to think that we alone are the reason for our prosperity, we are in many ways the continuation of our friends and family, our children and ancestors.
“We need people that are not afraid of us. People that don't worship us so much that they're afraid to tell us the truth.
You know, that thing that my father said about giving 100%. What he was basically talking about is why don't you just pour yourself out completely? This is the way in which I'm approaching music now. It's like I'm going to pour myself out. And I'm going to also pour myself out to people.”
And I say thank you to Quiet Life Co and Jabulile Majola for the night. Although I had to wait a month to hear the album after discovering Jabulile, you don't have to. Ipasi is out now on all streaming platforms. So carve ~40mins out of your day and listen to the stories and lessons Jabulile has been aching to share with us. And continue on, let die what must, and make space for a new life.
