This 'Iimini' (Xhosa for "days") is already the third long player by South African singer-songwriter Bongeziwe Mabandla, but is our first introduction to the work of the man from Tsolo, a rural town in the Eastern Cape Province. Bongeziwe initially moved to Johannesburg to attend film school, but soon became fascinated with the local music scene. When Mabandla presented his debut 'Umlilo' back in 2012, he was immediately hailed as the new face of Afro-folk, and that reputation only grew when he won the South African Music Award for Best Alternative Music Album with successor 'Mangaliso' in 2018. Bongeziwe is clearly proud of his origins, as he resolutely sings in Xhosa (the only exception on 'Iimini' being 'Ukwahlukana', Xhosa for "divorce", in which the English of American singer-songwriter and musician Son Little can also be heard), his soulful voice combined with the production work of songwriter, musician and producer Tiago Correia-Paulo, taking the listener to a wonderful universe where Tracy Chapman, Bon Iver and Michael Kiwanuka meet. South African gem!