Standard Bank Award winning musician Muneyi impresses the audience at an exclusive venue in Johannesburg CBD
The new hot album Shumela Venda will be released on May 29, 2026.
By Tonderai Chiyindiko
Photos –Courtesy of Standard Bank Arts
Limpopo born musician Standard Bank Young Artist for Music (2025) awardee Muneyi recently shared his upcoming album during an intimate, cold yet thoroughly entertaining evening at one of the heritage buildings in Marshalltown, Johannesburg.
The composer, singer and guitarist was “dressed to the nines” in regalia which evoked the yesteryear period of homelands and their often-colourful leaders who reigned over these fiefdoms on behalf of Pretoria. Flanked by a sunglass wearing security officer dressed in a humorously ill-fitting uniform, Muneyi transported the small but appreciative crowd to a time many, if not all in the room, never lived, late alone, had an idea of the mechanics and intricacies of these governance arrangements.
During his “state of the homeland” address, Muneyi regaled the audience with decrees of various kinds, some clearly over-the-top for maximum humour and for those who attended one, could sense a 25-year-old musician who is supremely confident in his craft and who has matured beyond his tender age.
As Shumela Venda, Muneyi’s latest album was introduced accompanied by visuals which were cleverly curated to ensure that they too stand on their own as works of art, but not in contradiction to the vocals, the audience was clearly left wanting more of what should be a well-received second album when it finally drops for the public.
Muneyi also touched on how he came up with the idea for the “coat of arms” as a visual representation of his musical offering and though, he did not delve too deep into it what he spoke of was his pride to represent Limpopo and Venda, and how it was important that Venda is ‘reintegrated’ into the South African imagination and story outside of its Bantustan history.
With this mature and deeply soulful album, Muneyi no longer needs an introduction as he has certainly cemented his place within the annals of the South African musical milieu as a musician, songwriter, guitarist and much more.
.Shumela Venda will be released on May 29, 2026.