Asanda Mqiki
Location: Based in Port ElizabethBiography
“Asanda Mqiki is a vocal force, a true Afro-soul revelation with an insane degree of control over her notes. Emotive and sassy, exuding a jazzy persona unlike anything I’ve seen she was my best vocal performance of the weekend.” - Texx and the City
Asanda Mqiki's music vibrates with visceral emotion, bringing together a range of influences from afro-funk, jazz, soul & traditional genres such as mbaqanga to create a signature sound that is topped only by her phenomenally powerful vocals. Her music brings people together and to their feet, whether it's beautiful ballads such as Squeeze me, or funky Afro-jazz tunes such Caramello and Mbulelo.
Asanda is known for her original music but also has an extensive range of cover songs that she enjoys performing for corporate and private functions. Her voice is powerful and emotive and she switches between artists such as Tina Turner, Miriam Makeba, Nina Simone and Ella Fitzgerald with ease. Corporate work has included functions for Castle Milk Stout, African Bush Camps, the Boardwalk Casino and various private weddings and events.
Some career highlight shows include headlining the Cape Town Festival with Vicky Sampson and Jimmy Nevis, and performing at the Oppikoppi & National Arts festivals. Internationally, she has twice performed by invitation at the Gothenberg Culture Festival in Sweden (2014 & 2015), and in 2018 at the Centro Cultural Franco-Moçambicano in Maputo, Mozambique. She was also the featured African artist for the inaugural online Lovebusk festival, organised out of Australia in 2016.
She has performed across South Africa at premier venues such as The Orbit (JHB), The Chairman (Durban), the PE Opera House, Harringtons (CPT) and Jazz in the Native Yards (CPT). Her band is a 4 - 8 piece ensemble (usually 7 piece) including drums, percussion, bass, keys, synths and saxophone.
Prior to launching her solo career, Asanda performed regularly with platinum-selling a capella group The Soil, and is particularly known for her contribution to their song Lizzy. She was also lead vocalist for the band Take Note, with whom she released 2 albums and performed at SA festival Joy of Jazz. She has shared the stage and collaborated with artists such as the legendary Sibongile Khumalo, Freshlyground, Khaya Mahlangu, Bongeziwe Mabandla, Putuma Tiso & Berita.
Asanda Mqiki will be releasing her first solo album in 2018.
Awards & Distinctions
Asanda's talent has been recognised with distinctions including:
- Selected as one of the Top 5 of the espYoungLegends in October 2017 (organised by espAfrika / Cape Town International Jazz Festival to recognise SA's top young talent)
- Winner of a Gold Ovation Award at the National Arts Festival 2015
- Winner of the Eastern Cape MEC award for Best Individual Performer 2015
Media Quotes
- “Her jazz elicits happiness, joy and the kinda indescribable feel you get when you fit the last piece of a really complex 10000 part puzzle… The band’s harmony coupled with the expressive singing of Asanda is difficult to imagine simply on the basis of words…” - Richard Chemaly, milled.co.za
- “The richness of her voice, the generosity of her performance, her versatility and authenticity all astounded me. She was the same lyrical, charismatic and gracious Asanda Mqiki, but with more depth and complexity than I could have anticipated...her emotive and often spontaneous way takes nothing away from her skill. She transitions from celebratory to thoughtful, Xhosa to English, Pop to Jazz, seamlessly. Watching her perform was an engaging exercise in feeling and listening deeply.” - Shalom Zamisa, Jazz
Performance Options
- Standard option: 7 piece band including Asanda
- For small functions, a quartet option is available
- For large functions a fuller band with additional horns and back up singers is available
Photo Gallery
Sound Clips
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BUDGET INDICATOR
Below budget range is merely a guide; you will receive an exact quote based on your unique event details upon enquiring
Budget Range for Asanda Mqiki is
R20000 - R35000
BOOKING ENQUIRY
Submit a booking enquiry directly with Asanda Mqiki, and the Artist or their manager / representative will be in touch with you soon!
Should you be unsure about which acts to enquire with, you can choose to SEND GIGSTER YOUR EVENT DETAILS and we will forward your enquiry to up to 5 suitable acts.
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