CENTANE– What begins as the strum of a guitar in the quiet hills of Jingqa Village in Centane, with passion and persistence echo across the country. That’s the story of a local artist whose sound rooted in tradition, has grown to command national recognition.
From playing for boys returning from the mountain to standing on stages at national award ceremonies, Zama ‘Tornado‘ Ntenteni has charted a journey as raw and rhythmic as the Maskandi music he lives and breathes. Teaming up with his cousin Nongoma in the early days, the pair formed part of the group Yizo-Yizo, recording Utshangisa ka Skhomo under the Department of Arts and Culture.
In 2009, their debut album Amawele kaMamtshawe hit the airwaves and went on to win Best isiXhosa Album at the South African Traditional Music Awards (SATMAs) the following year. Contractual battles slowed their rise and instead of giving up, Tornado redefined himself launching a solo career while keeping the group alive.
His solo debut, Ndisamthanda released in 2011, earned him the SATMA Best Newcomer Award, setting the tone for a career defined by resilience. Today, Tornado’s name is woven into the fabric of modern Maskandi. With nearly five albums under his belt including the 2018 release Amatsanatsana his voice continues to carry the sounds of home, identity and perseverance.
Furthermore he also revealed that a collection of unreleased material lies waiting in the wings, held back only by contractual red tape a creative reservoir he hopes to release when the time is right.
Despite his success, Tornado speaks candidly about the uphill climb faced by provincial artists.
In an exclusive interview with Eastern Cape Daily News Tornado had this to say, “Some of us go for cheap studios and expect the final product to have top quality, which doesn’t always happen.We don’t always get support from our own people, maybe because we haven’t marketed our music enough. We took a long time to be active on social media and promoting music requires money.”
Though no performances are currently scheduled for December, bookings are open. Fans can follow Tornado on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, where his passion continues to reach ears and hearts beyond Centane.
For bookings, contact Tornado Ntenteni directly at 078 395 6954 or reach his manager, Sivuyile Nqaphi at 083 240 4867.
