Owethu Ndwandwe and Thane Smith Featuring Hymn_self

Featuring Hymn_self is an ode by Siyabonga Mthembu to the hymn and song as a building block to his process. Its an idea of songs whose idiom doesn’t live in his current projects rather than being a solo-exploit. Its a reasoning with that which is soft, in love and sometimes hurt in the sunset of grief if ever such an idea should exist. The first public iteration of this portal took place at Nirox Sculpture Park as an ode to fatherhood, this one is in search of why here and why now…

Siyabonga Mthembu is a South African performance artist and the lead vocalist of The Brother Moves On (TBMO), a Johannesburg-based ensemble known for its avant-garde fusion of music, theatre, and visual art. Formed between 2008 and 2010 by Siyabonga and his late brother Nkululeko Mthembu, TBMO began as a collective of graphic and performance artists before evolving into a band

Often performing under the alias “Featuring Hymn_self,” Mthembu’s work transcends traditional musical genres. He describes himself not merely as a musician but as a performance artist who happens to sing, emphasizing the ritualistic and communal aspects of his art . His vocal style is characterized by a dynamic range, moving from meditative tones to urgent, explosive riffs, inviting audiences into spaces of prayer, action, and (r)evolution.

Guitar: Thane Smith

Keys: Owethu Ndwandwe

Voice: Featuring Hymn_self