Online Reporter
“I did not want just to sing. I wanted the songs to minister to me first.” Those words from gospel artist Thembinkosi capture the heart of “Themba iNkosi”, an EP born from surrender, faith and a desire to create music that reaches beyond entertainment.
Rather than chasing perfection, he set out to make a project that feels like a conversation with God, inviting listeners into his own journey of hope, healing and trust.
For Thembinkosi, “Themba iNkosi” is not simply another release. It represents a complete reset, both spiritually and creatively.
While his earlier music was shaped by the church, tradition and the gospel sound he grew up with, he reached a point where he felt God calling him to let go of what was familiar.
“For many years, my writing flowed from what I knew. Yet spiritually, I entered a season where God was asking me to surrender, even the good things. It was a call to obedience, not rejection,” he said.
The change was not driven by a desire to reinvent himself for commercial success. Instead, it came from asking one honest question.
“I had to return to the drawing board and ask myself, ‘If no one was listening, what would I still sing?’ That honest question birthed ‘Themba iNkosi’. It is not a continuation of the past but a new chapter rooted in surrender, obedience and authenticity.”
That search for honesty shaped every part of the EP, including the way he approached his own voice. Rather than focusing on technical perfection, Thembinkosi wanted each song to carry spiritual meaning before it reached an audience.
“My voice is only a vessel, but I prayed it would carry conviction, not just notes,” he said.
He explains that recording the songs with a live band allowed vulnerability to remain at the centre of the project.
“Recording live allowed honesty and imperfection to remain because the Spirit speaks through vulnerability. Each take was prayer, not performance. A son speaking to his Father. If the message reached hearts, it was because the Spirit carried it, not me.”
That philosophy extends to the music itself. While “Themba iNkosi” is rooted in contemporary afro-gospel, it also embraces modern gospel influences and live instrumentation. For Thembinkosi, worship has never belonged to one musical style.
“Gospel is not confined to one era, one sound or one style. From David’s worship with strings, drums and dance, we see that honouring the King of Kings has always been diverse and expressive.”
He believes that bringing together African musical traditions with contemporary sounds creates space for different generations to connect through worship.
“Blending afro-gospel roots with modern styles is my way of declaring that God is still speaking in this generation’s language. It is a sound that resonates with today’s youth while remaining meaningful to the older generation.”
For him, expanding gospel music is about welcoming more people into the experience.
“Worship should be a place where everyone has a seat, feels welcome and feels accommodated. Music becomes ministry, a living testimony that God’s voice is timeless yet always fresh.”
The recording process became another defining part of the EP. Working with producer Mjakes Thebe and a live band at Moya Sound created an environment where authenticity came first.
“At Moya Sound, the room itself became a sanctuary. We were not chasing perfection. We were chasing authenticity.”
Instead of countless retakes, the musicians focused on creating an atmosphere where every performance reflected genuine worship.
“We played, we prayed and we recorded. That holy honesty could not be faked. When all hearts were breathing the same moment, the Spirit exposed what was real.”
He believes that even the imperfections became part of the story.
“The mistakes, the silences and the unexpected sparks are not blemishes. They are testimonies. They remind us that God works through imperfection and that His strength is made perfect in weakness.”
Behind the music lies a deeply personal story. Thembinkosi said that recent challenges strengthened his dependence on God and inspired the themes of faith, surrender and divine guidance that run throughout the project.
“This album is rooted in my faith in God through the calamities I have faced in recent years. When nothing else made sense, my faith remained the anchor.”
Rather than hiding those experiences, he chose to share them through song.
“I felt led to share my life’s experiences with the people of God, not as performance but as ministry. Each song is a testimony of His love and a declaration that even in seasons of confusion and pain, His presence is steadfast.”
More than anything, he hopes that listeners hear honesty when they press play.
“My faith is not a label I wear. It is the lens through which I see everything. I am not trying to preach. I am trying to be honest.”
He described the EP as music that embraces life’s uncertainties while pointing towards hope.
“It is about showing that faith is lived where weakness meets grace and where questions meet God’s whisper. This project is my attempt to sing from that place, not as a sermon but as a testimony of what it means to believe while wrestling and to hope while healing.”
As he begins this new chapter, Thembinkosi said that he is no longer concerned with fitting neatly into one genre or sounding perfect.
He wants his music to reflect real life, African rhythms and lyrics that ask honest questions.
“If someone listens and thinks, ‘He is wrestling with God just like I am and he is making beauty out of it,’ then I did my job. Even if people do not see my face but only hear my voice and the message behind it, I am more than satisfied.” – IOL
