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STIFLED: Presenter and muso Bongani Nxumalo. Picture taken from www.overtone.co.za

Picture taken from www.goxtranews.com

 On the other hand, the lyrics describe how difficult it is for me to say how she makes me feel 

He's been fighting a losing battle to get his just released second album, Je Ta' ime, play-listed at several radio stations.

Apparently the strong influences of music such as sokous, a popular style in countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, make his offering "too African" for the liking of some radio station compilers.

It's not the first time he's had it tough trying to convince compilers that listeners would love his music.

He says his self-titled debut album "didn't see the light of day" except for a few songs that were played on Ukhozi FM and an Afrikaans hit tune Loslappie that enjoyed airplay on RSG (Radio Sonder Grense.)

But Nxumalo concedes that the mix-masala of music styles on his debut album may have confused some.

"That's why I decided to have a direction, a focus - an Afro-centric one - on my new album," says the chubby artist.

The buzz in Doppio Zero, Rosebank, muffles his telling laughter after I ask him to table the exact meaning of the line: "you make things hard for me".

The lyrics refer to a beautiful someone who is the subject of the ballad-like opening track, Touch Me Nice 'n Slow, of Je Ta' ime.

"It has a double meaning."

He stops for a second. His laughter has been replaced by a naughty smile.

"You know, at face value ... literally what it says is that she turns me on. In our metro-sexual culture that's exactly what you are expected to say.

"On the other hand, the lyrics describe how difficult it is for me to say how she makes me feel.

"I must say it's considered disrespectful and will be hard to swallow in our culture, to openly say to a woman she arouses your sexual imagination.

"It's not romantic.

"You hear people saying Zulu's aren't romantic. But that's not true.

"We're very descriptive and poetic people who can paint a picture of a number of charming attributes we see in a woman that she might not have been aware of."

But it's not his poetic skills that won over his wife, Rejoice.

Nxumalo says he couldn't utter a single Setswana word when he first met her 17 years ago.

"I initially spoke to her in isiZulu. She said she couldn't understand my language.

"It was difficult but I could see she liked me. I began picking up Setswana words here and there because she spoke to me in her mother tongue.

"Before I knew it I was speaking the language.

"So it's not true that Zulus don't want to learn other languages.

"My uncle spoke about seven of the 11 official languages and I can communicate in xiTsonga, tshiVenda and Afrikaans."

The storytelling nature of the country helped Nxumalo get a grasp of English when he was 15.

In his travels around the world, as part of the Lion King cast, Nxumalo also learnt a bit of German.

After five years performing in the Disney World musical, he came home.

"I heard 94.7 Highveld Stereo was looking for raw presenting talent. I auditioned, they liked my voice and hired me. Six years later I'm still there."

THIS & THAT:

• Born June 5, 1970 in Nquthu, Vryheid, KwaZulu- Natal.
• Married Rejoice when he was 29 years old.
• The couple has three children - 17-year-old Kgosi, 11-year-old Kia and four-year-old Amani.
• Auditioned for the Lion King in late 1988 and was among the 13 artists chosen out of 5000 hopefuls.
• Studied sound engineering but only worked as an engineer for about five months.
• Would like to live on a farm with no electricity: "I'll be so driven to write music."
• Has presented TV programmes such at The Perfect Sishebo and Maropeng Spirit of the Lion King.
• Is the voice of the character of Jim in the animated movie Jock of the Bushveld.
• Can also be heard in the kiddies animated TV show Captain Zee on SABC2 and was the voice of 2010 Fifa World Cup opening and closing ceremonies.
• Co-hosts a music video request show on M-Net and M-net HD called Soundcheck Live with Liezel van der Westhuizen.
• Has appeared in popular local soapies such as Generations and Egoli.
• As a singer he has worked with, among others, Kirk Franklin, Donnie Mcklurckin, Jonathan Butler, Hugh Masekela and Lebo M.