By Malebo Pheme
Legendary South African musician and cultural icon Ringo Madlingozi has returned with a bold new album, Ikhwelo.
Known for his soul-stirring vocals and timeless classics like Sondela, Ringo now steps forward with a fresh offering rooted in love, truth, and a deep spiritual calling to awaken the collective conscience.
Released in late April, Ikhwelo, which translates to “the call”, is more than just a musical release. It’s a heartfelt message to a divided and often wounded society. In his signature blend of introspection and social awareness, Ringo uses this project to explore themes of self-love, unity, and honesty, while addressing difficult truths about the current state of the country and the world.
“Ikhwelo is a call to remember who we are,” Ringo says. “To stop searching for love outside ourselves and recognise the light within. If we affirm ourselves, ‘I’m beautiful, I’m harmonious, I’m one with all life’, then we begin to shift how we treat each other.”
The album is personal, yet it speaks to universal struggles: isolation, disconnection, and the need for collective healing. In tracks like Ufikile Ekuseni, he reminds listeners to reconnect with their reflection. “That person you wake up with in the mirror, that’s you. That’s where it all begins.”
Having spent several years in Parliament, Ringo admits the experience shifted his worldview. He says, “My first album in 1995 asked questions that still haven’t been answered. How can a hungry child learn? How can we punish poverty with prison?” He’s always spoken out about inequality long before stepping into politics.
But with Ikhwelo, he continues not to filter his words.
“Because love is in need of love today,” he says, borrowing the words from Stevie Wonder’s Songs in the Key of Life. In a world heavy with division, violence, and dishonesty, Ikhwelo stands tall as a musical reckoning. It’s Ringo putting aside the fear of “ruffling feathers” and choosing honesty over comfort.
“There’s a song Ndiyaxolisa, I’m sorry, my sister, my brother. I’m sorry for how I made you feel, but not for the truth I’m speaking. We’ve been too scared to be real with each other. Now’s the time.”
Across the album, Ringo addresses issues like gender-based violence, self-hate, and false education, but it always circles back to one central message: love. More than the romanticised version, but love as action. Love is healing. Love is a responsibility.
After more than three decades in the industry, a SAMA Lifetime Achievement Award in hand, and an ever-evolving sound, Ringo remains rooted. Ikhwelo includes collaborations with younger artists and modern sounds, blending amapiano-inspired beats with spiritually rich lyrics. “Music follows the vibe of the youth,” he says. “But I bring the message. The affirmations. That’s the kind of music we need.”
He’s also using the album as a platform to mentor. As part of the Ikhwelo music tour, Ringo will host workshops alongside live performances, creating space for artists to learn technique and purpose. “Let’s sing in our own languages. Let’s sing about our communities. Let’s stop imitating and start remembering.”
The tour will take place in Gqeberha on 7 and 8 June, creating excitement. At a recent performance in Johannesburg, Ringo was on stage for over three hours; no one touched the food; the music was enough. “People left full not from eating, but from feeling loved,” he recalls.
That’s the essence of Ikhwelo. It’s not a comeback. It continues a legacy rooted in truth, soul, and deep cultural pride. And for those who have followed his journey from Vukani to Sondelani, and now to Ikhwelo, this latest chapter isn’t just timely, it’s necessary.
“We are a broken people pretending to be okay, but music, real music, can remind us. It can heal us. If we answer the call.”
