Helen Herimbi

On what would have been Jabulani Tsambo's 40th birthday, we remember how the beloved musician got his name. Recalling a story the motswako giant once told music journalist, Helen Herimbi, she spoke to music industry veteran, Vusi Leeuw -- the man who gave him the name: Hip Hop Pantsula. Happy birthday, Jabba. Rest in power, #HipHopPantsula

As we gear up for a new season of i(m)bali, Helen Herimbi presents an i(m)bali Stem - a special audio-only episode highlighting important parts of the musical journey of key players in African music. In this stem, Jah Seed tells the music journalist his story. They talk about his upbringing in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. They discuss leaving construction engineering studies for music, meeting Oskido, forming Bongo Maffin, his reaction when Thandiswa joined the group, the iconic Ragga Nights, dancehall queen culture and continuing to evolve more than 20 years after he started making music. Subscribe to this channel and turn on notifications to be the first to know when the new i(m)bali season premieres. You can also follow Helen at http://instagram.com/uHelenH

In this (un)interview, music journalist, Helen Herimbi catches up with Petite Noir. They discuss his new EP, Coeur World, the idea of home not being a place, the future of good music and the pressure to become a pop act.

South African music journalist, Helen Herimbi sits down with UK-based South African singer-songwriter, DemiMa at The Nest Space, Johannesburg. They talk about self care, connecting to the earth, embracing being different, conscious frequencies in sound, liberation and love songs, singing in Zulu, growing up in Durban and being the granddaughter of creative maverick, Pinky Mseleku. They also discuss stepping on stage with Bheki Mseleku, the pressure of legacy, the freedom women seek in a patriarchal world, collaborating with Kid X, friends who have become family, her EP, ALT.FRQNC and more. Thank you to The Nest Space for hosting us. Sound design: Kitso Moremi for #SNAPSbyKITSO

In the first episode of The Writers Season 2, South African music journalist, Helen Herimbi talks to dumama + kechou about their debut album, buffering juju. They discuss how a Berlin visit turned into “an extension of [their] creationship” and inspiration from Credo Mutwa. They also delve into how language gives different meaning to lyrics, having multiple versions of songs, the fear of being irrelevant, instruments as additional band members, generational baggage and they pay homage to the women who came before us. Follow Helen at http://instagram.com/uhelenh

Helen Herimbi presents i(m)bali LIVE featuring Kabelo Mabalane. One third of iconic kwaito group, TKZee, Kabelo Mabalane talks to the South African music journalist and an audience. They talk about Kabelo's parents' music collection shaping his taste, meeting Tokollo and Zwai, becoming pioneers, inheriting kwaito beefs, going solo, becoming a pastor, cancel culture, entrepreneurship and more. Engineered and edited by Kitso Moremi. Thumbnail image by Dudu Dube

Helen Herimbi presents: i(m)bali LIVE featuring Simphiwe Dana. The multi-award-winning South African musician speaks to the music journalist in front of a live audience. They discuss singing from an early age, being labelled a diva, dreaming Zandisile, criticism for her social activism through music, self-care, vocal surgery, becoming an actress, the car accident that almost took her music career away and more. Engineered and edited by Kitso Moremi. Thumbnail image by Dudu Dube.

Helen Herimbi presents: i(m)bali LIVE featuring Nosisi Ngakane. The musician and creative entrepreneur speaks to the music journalist in front of a live audience. They discuss moving a lot as a child, how hip hop influenced her writing, Black Sunday, SAY-TAB, Expressions and becoming a music businesswoman. They also talked about the trials and triumphs of Kwani Experience, deciding to perform music again, collaborating on Spaza and why bands need therapy. Apologies for the technical glitches. Sound: Tshidiso Setshogwe For more information on #imbaliLIVE or to find out how to attend, visit http://www.helenherimbi.co.za Follow Helen at http://www.instagram.com/uHelenH

Helen Herimbi presents: i(m)bali LIVE featuring AKA. The Supa Mega speaks to the music journalist in front of a live audience. They discuss AKA's childhood, working with Khuli Chana, PRO, how his relationship with DJ Zinhle influenced the making of Levels, friendship with Stogie T, beef with L-Tido, Sean Pages, Blaklez, iFani and Cassper Nyovest. He also talks about learning from his shortcomings as an entrepreneur, collaborating with Reebok on the SneAKA, hashing things out with Burna Boy, women in hip hop and what it takes to be a superstar. Engineered and edited by Kitso Moremi. Thumbnail image by Dudu Dube.

Helen Herimbi presents: i(m)bali LIVE featuring Khuli Chana. The motswako giant speaks to the music journalist in front of a live audience. They discuss Khuli's upbringing, challenging himself to rap in Setswana, the impact Hip Hop Pantsula had on his music and his life and co-founding Morafe. He also opens up about going solo, being shot by members of the South African Police Service, finding his voice again, being caught between Cassper Nyovest and AKA's beef, his upcoming album (The Planet of the Have-Nots) and more. Engineered and edited by Kitso Moremi.

Helen Herimbi presents: i(m)bali LIVE featuring Thandiswa Mazwai. The South African multi-genre icon speaks to the music journalist in front of a live audience. They discuss Thandiswa making kwaito with Jacknife, joining Bongo Maffin (and getting paid in R10 notes), hanging out with Nelson Mandela and Michael Jackson, creating her acclaimed albums, her friendships with late legends, Hugh Masekela and Busi Mhlongo and more. Engineered and edited by Kitso Moremi.

Following YouTube Music's announcement of a partnership with Mr Eazi's emPawa Africa movement at Google for Nigeria, Helen Herimbi sat down with Mr Eazi to find out more. The South African music journalist spoke to the Banku Music creator about the Life is Eazi series of albums, Lagos gyration, making a gqom song, T'Challa, appearing on Beyonce's The Gift album and more. Written, produced, recorded and edited by Helen Herimbi

In this short celebration of Simphiwe Dana's debut album, Zandisile, the artists speaks to music journalist, Helen Herimbi, about making it. Written, produced, recorded and edited by Helen Herimbi

Helen Herimbi presents: i(m)bali LIVE featuring Tumi "Stogie T" Molekane. The South African hip hop veteran speaks to the music journalist in front of a live audience. They discuss growing up in exile, Database, PERM, Tumi and the Volume, pursuing a South African fanbase, Motif Records, Music From My Good Eye, writing from provocation and more. Engineered and edited by Kitso Moremi. Watch the full conversation at youtube.com/HelenHerimbi Follow @uHelenH on Instagram.

Canadian-South African singer-songwriter, producer and all-round creative, Zaki Ibrahim speaks to Helen Herimbi about songwriting, scoring films, the life cycle of a star, sex, past and upcoming albums and more. Written, produced, recorded and edited by Helen Herimbi

South African rapper, TV presenter and businesswoman, Nomuzi "Moozlie" Mabena speaks to Helen Herimbi about learning how to rap, writing about her real experiences, rapping with Rouge and vulnerability on her debut album, Victory. Written, produced, recorded and edited by Helen Herimbi

Helen Herimbi presents: i(m)bali LIVE featuring Mandla "Spikiri" Mofokeng. The South African kwaito legend speaks to the music journalist in front of a live audience. They talk about Chicco Twala taking him under his wing, working with Bongo Maffin and Lebo Mathosa, the highs and highs of Trompies, his signature bassline, the future of kwaito and more. Engineered and edited by Kitso Moremi. Watch the full conversation at youtube.com/HelenHerimbi Follow @uHelenH on Instagram.

Helen Herimbi presents: i(m)bali LIVE featuring Siya "Slikour" Metane. The South African hip hop legend speaks to the music journalist in front of a live audience. They talk about how he fell in love with hip hop, battling Snazz the Dictator, the original Skwatta Kamp, falling out with Infa, Flabba's passing, signing Kwesta, breaking up with Bonang via Facebook, SlikourOnLife, feeling misunderstood and more! Engineered and edited by Kitso Moremi. Watch the full conversation at https://youtu.be/Lml2s1u-7YU Follow @uHelenH on Instagram.

South African songwriter, composer, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist, Zoe Modiga, speaks to Helen Herimbi about writing 'Love' off her SAMA-nominated debut album, Yellow the Novel, as well as composing as a part of Seba Kaapstad. Written, produced, recorded and edited by Helen Herimbi

South African rapper and songwriter, Zingah, speaks to Helen Herimbi about challenging himself to write Dlala and how penning iWalk Ye Phara was a full-circle moment. Written, produced, recorded and edited by Helen Herimbi

South African folk and protest singer-songwriter, Msaki, speaks to Helen Herimbi about writing songs and catching them. Written, produced, recorded and edited by Helen Herimbi

South African Music Award-winning rapper, Shane Eagle, speaks to Helen Herimbi about white hair, YellowVerse, black tax and alcoholism as a red light. Written, produced, recorded and edited by Helen Herimbi

South African hip hop PR pioneer, Melanie "Hypress" Ramjee, speaks to music journalist, Helen Herimbi, in front of a live audience. She opens up about early Johannesburg hip hop, pivoting to lifestyle and brand PR as well as becoming an influencer in the digital age. Engineered and edited by Kitso Moremi. Watch the full conversation at https://youtu.be/U4auHdTzdzo Follow @uHelenH on Instagram.

South African hip hop veteran, Thabiso "Hip Hop Scholar" Khati speaks to music journalist, Helen Herimbi, in front of a live audience. He lets us in on his come up, managing Amunishn, the rise and fall of Cashtime Life, making amends and how he reinvented himself in the music business. Engineered and edited by Kitso Moremi. Watch the full conversation at https://youtu.be/lAaIHmQYgfg Follow @uHelenH on Instagram.

Multi-genre legend, Ishmael, is a household name in South African music. In this episode of i(m)bali LIVE, he spoke to Helen Herimbi about his career, his struggles with substances, losing a loved one and reinventing himself. Engineered and edited by Kitso Moremi.

Leslie "Lee" Kasumba is a broadcaster who has been an integral part of African hip hop for almost 20 years. During the second i(m)bali LIVE event, she speaks to Helen Herimbi about her roots, YFM, Emcee Africa, Hip Hop Herstory, her dream interview, the Imposter Syndrome and more. Engineered and edited by Kitso Moremi.

Bradley "DJ Bionic" Williams, aka The Globalist, was the guest for the first i(m)bali LIVE event, hosted by Helen Herimbi. They spoke about DJing for Nelson Mandela, co-founding Le Club, Black August, Motif Records, Matchboxology, his MBA, The Artivist and more. And yes, we now remember The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill was released in 1998.

South African hip hop pioneer, PRO, speaks to Helen Herimbi about expressing himself, his best and worst recording moments and what music really means to him.

Kwaito star, Mshoza, speaks to Helen Herimbi about the law of attraction, losing Lebo Mathosa and letting the music speak for her.

South African legend, Hugh Masekela, talks to Helen Herimbi about pretending to be a painter in Camps Bay, forming The Jazz Epistles and being force-fed non-African music.

During a very busy day, Kaya FM MD, Greg Maloka, briefly takes Helen Herimbi down memory lane and discusses how he got into radio and why he chose Bongo Maffin's 'Makeba' to be the first song ever played on YFM.

Multi-award-winning DJ, Ms Cosmo talks to Helen Herimbi about taking radio seriously, executive producing singles, learning how to make beats and how her singles, 'Connect' and 'Ay Baby' came about.

We give kwaito icon and mononym, Thebe, his flowers while he can smell them by allowing him to tell his story. He talks to Helen Herimbi about his days as a DJ, living with Bruce Dope, the strong language in his music and more.