Samkelo Lelethu Mdolomba (born 21 January 1985), known professionally as Samthing Soweto, is a South African singer and songwriter.^[1][2] Samthing is best known for his vocals on Sun-El Musician's song "Akanamali" and his number 1 single on spotify "Akulaleki".

Following his departure of the group The Soil, Mdolomba released his debut album, This N That Without Tempo (2010), which fuses a capella and soul. He then departed from his debut album's sound as he introduced fusions of Afro pop, and R&B for his second album, Isphithiphithi (2019), which became certified platinum by the Recording Industry of South Africa RiSA.^[3]

Life and career[edit]

Early life[edit]

Samkelo Lelethu Mdolomba was born and raised in Protea North, Soweto, a township of Johannesburg, South Africa.^[1] He is the third of four children, who were all raised by his single mother.^[1] Mdolomba was moved to his grandmother in the Eastern Cape, but was later moved back to Protea North caused by substandard issues.^[1] In an interview with The Best T in The city, he said, "She [his mother] thought maybe an upbringing in the EC would benefit me but it didn’t. I lost weight, not that my granny wasn’t looking after me, I cried every day…it was too much for me so she came back after a year".^[1]

Mdolomba left school in eighth grade as he had problems of dyslexia . In an interview on Metro FM, he stated: "School was really tough for me.^[4] It was a nightmare but I went back nonetheless." At the age of 15, Mdolomba started using Mandrax, and was also involved in crime-related actions in order to escape difficulties he faced at home.^[4] He was sent to a youth detention centre for armed robbery where he started making music full-time. This eventually helped him break out of the life of crime and drug addiction.^[4]

The Soil[edit]

After being released from the youth detention centre and eventually returning to school, Samthing Soweto began taking interest to a school choir.^[5] The choir was led by Buhlebendalo Mda, who was later one of the vocalists of the acappella group The Soil.^[5] While attending the choir's performance, Mdolomba wanted to start a group [The Soil], describing it as: "A group that sings songs, songs that we can afford to sing. And I say afford, because everything out there was programmed or played with instruments and we couldn't afford that, so I was like let's use our voices".^[5]

After the formation of The Soil, the group met the head of the entertainment company Native Rhythms, Sipho Sithole, who was keen on signing them to his label.^[5] After signing and beginning their first project, Mdolomba began learning how to produce music and released his debut solo studio album, This N That Without Tempo, and also started making music with a nu jazz band, The Fridge.^[5] Mdolomba left both parties due to contractual disputes and creative differences.^[5]

Influence[edit]

Prior to meeting members of The Soil, Mdolomba was arrested for public robbery in Avalon cemetery at Klipriviersoog, Soweto.^[6] His sentence was suspended and he was sent to a youth detention center in Krugersdorp, West Rand.^[5] Mdolomba was encouraged to sing by his fellow inmates, who sang using a prison style of chanting called Gumba Fire, which includes singing Kwaito songs in a a cappella format.^[5] This became a major influence in him establishing the group The Soil, in terms of both working in a group, and using bare vocals as a musical instrument.^[5] He also stated that the male choral group Ladysmith Black Mambazo had an influence on him in venturing to a cappella.^[7]

The Fridge[edit]

After leaving The Soil, Mdolomba continued with the nu jazz group, The Fridge. The band consisted of a drummer, Ade Omotade, bassist Muthusi and Mdolomba as the vocalist; it gained success in playing on local shows and festivals, including The Loft at Melville, Gauteng.^[8] The group released their debut EP, Bass Drum & Sam, in 2011 through digital media.^[9] The Fridge disbanded in 2015 due to two members, Thusi and Ade, relocating.^[9]

2010–2021: Solo projects and Isphithiphiti[edit]

In 2013, Mdolomba appeared on poet Makhafula Vilakazi's South African poetry album, I Am Not Going Back to the Township, credited both as a guest vocalist and producer.^[10] Following his debut studio album, This N That Without Tempo, which was independently released on 6 August 2010, Mdolomba released his debut EP, Eb'suku, on 4 January 2014.^[11] In support of Eb'suku, Mdolomba headlined the 2014 Joy of Jazz Festival, representing "Sounds Of Democracy".^[12] He also performed at the Rocking The Daisies Festival held on 2–5 October 2014 at Cape Town, Western Cape.^[13] That same year, he composed and performed the title sequence of the drama series Rhythm City, and also appeared on the soundtrack of the drama film Otelo Burning.^[14][15]

In 2015, Mdolomba appeared on the Coca-Cola-sponsored live-music television series Coke Studio Africa, alongside artist Spoek Mathambo and bassist Shane Cooper.^[16] In May 2017, Mdolomba made his superior breakthrough with his feature on the Sun-El Musician song "Akanamali".^[17] The song received South African Music Awards for Best Collaboration, SAMPRA highest airplay, and SAMRO highest airplay at the 24th South African Music Awards.^[18]

On 20 September 2019, his second studio album, Isphithiphithi, was released.^[19] The album broke the record of the highest number of users "pre-adding" the album on the streaming service Apple Music South Africa, before the release of the album; the record was previously held by singer Billie Eilish.^[20][21]

He released four singles for the album, including "Akulaleki" (featuring Sha Sha) which peaked number-one on the local Apple Music chart.^[23] The song "Akulaleki" was certified gold.^[24] At the 26th ceremony of South African Music Awards, Isphitiphithi received the Best Afro Pop Album award.^[25]

2022–present: Upcoming projects[edit]

In early January 2022, he announced his upcoming live album which is set to be recorded on the second quarter of 2022.^[26]

In March 2022, Soweto teased "Amagents" single on his Instagram account. The song was released on June 24, 2022.^[27] It debuted number one in South Africa.^[28] The song was certified gold in South Africa.^[29]

In July 2022, Soweto will embark on his Now or Never tour, which includes two dates.^[30]

Tours[edit]

• Now or Never (2022)

Discography[edit]

Studio albums[edit]

Awards and nominations[edit]

References[edit]