Ngonidzashe Dondo, a 19-year-old hip-hop artist with a big voice and even bigger dreams, hopes to conquer the world.
By Staff Reporter
While many artists have started from the rudimentary, Ngoni — as he prefers to be called — will mark his entry into the mainstream music arena with a yet-to-be-named single that will feature some of Africa’s best artists.
In an interview with The Standard Style on Tuesday, Ngoni said he was working on a “powerful” collaboration that will feature South African rapper Nasty C and contemporary singer Jah Prayzah.
The unheralded hip-hop artist said he was also working on the project with South African hip-hop star Cassper Nyovest’s producer and director Alie Keyz.
Born Almotie Mtombeni in Zimbabwe, Alie Keyz was in the country last Tuesday where he met Ngoni, whom he described as the “future of Zim hip-hop”.
“He has the potential and I will do the production of the project that will feature Jah Prayzah and Nasty C. We might rope in Cassper as well, but there is something big coming up from Ngoni,” Alie Keyz said.
“I am happy to be working with a young musician who is eager to learn the ropes of the trade and is so passionate about music.”
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Alie Keyz, who directs and plays keyboards for most of Cassper Nyovest’s shows, including the recent Fill Up FNB Stadium concert, said collaborations between Zimbabwean and South African artists were the way to go.
“Networking between Zimbabwean and South African artists should be supported at all costs. We learn from each other and it is healthy for the arts industry. For Ngoni, he is priviledged to have a supporting father and should use that to his advantage and make an impression on the music scene,” Alie Keyz said.
“I long for a time when Zimbabweans and South Africans will work together for the development of music in their countries. I wish to be part of that movement.”
Ngoni said he will take the opportunity to make a name for himself on the music scene.
“I started singing and recording my music when I was 13, something my father was not aware of. My father got to know that I sing recently when Cassper Nyovest performed here in Zimbabwe. Cassper had listened to one of my songs on YouTube and he asked my father to support me,” he said.
His father Thompson Dondo, who is also the executive producer of the project, said Ngoni was a talented artist who needed the guidance and support of the big names in the industry.
“I am giving him all the support that he needs and hopefully he makes a name for himself in the music business. They are working on the track while we are planning for a very big gig next year that will feature all the guys who would feature on the project,” Dondo said.
“Working with a top producer like Alie Keyz is the best thing that we have done for Ngoni.”
Alie Keyz joined Cassper Nyovest two years ago as producer and director. He also produced Cassper Nyovest’s latest album Thuto, which has gone double platinum.
Together, they have set the continental hip-hop arena alight with notable gigs such as the Fill Up The Dome (2015), Fill Up FNB Stadium (2016) and the recent Fill Up FNB Stadium that saw 60 000 people paying for the concert.
