A Night at the Well: Healing and Empowerment Close Women’s Month. By Asenam Feni
Written by gb on 3rd October 2025
On Friday, 29 August, Dweba Art and Café in Cape Town’s Longmarket Street became more than just a venue — it transformed into a sacred space. Warm lighting, artistic touches, and a welcoming atmosphere set the stage for Echibini: Women of the Well, an event of music, poetry, and healing to conclude Women’s Month.
Hosted by Qaqamba Ntshika and Chosi Music, the evening was designed as more than entertainment. “This is not a show, but a Well,” reminded Qaqamba, framing the night as a place for women to draw strength, reconnect with purpose, and find renewal together.
A Sacred Opening
From the start, Echibini carried a spirit of reverence. MC Busi Jama invited the audience into silence — an unusual but powerful pause that set the tone. Into that expectant hush, Qaqamba and Chosi entered with song: “Yho mntakamama uyabizwa echibini” (Oh, child of your mother, you are called to the well). The words, sung in isiXhosa, turned the room into a sanctuary.
Qaqamba followed with a poem that laid the foundation for reflection before performing “Ndinobizo” (I Have a Calling). She urged the audience to close their eyes and breathe deeply, reminding them that “We all try so hard to run away from our purpose.” Her performance — weaving music, spoken word, and even the sharp whistle of a call — was less a song than a testimony, stirring the audience with its honesty and conviction.
Chosi’s Testimony in Song
Later in the evening, Chosi took the stage with “Ndinovalo,” her single released in Cape Town last year. She also announced the release of a new single the following day in Johannesburg. Her vulnerability — admitting to nerves and struggles — created instant connection.
Her performance blended preaching, praise, and worship, moving the audience into tears, prayer, and open expression. “Size ecaweni apha,” she declared: We are in church here. And indeed, the atmosphere felt like sacred ground.
Chosi’s set also included heartfelt tributes. She honoured the late Uyinene Mrwetyana, and performed Yollunder’s “Ndinovalo” with deep respect, preserving its original rawness. She also paid homage to the legendary Busi Mhlongo, affirming her place in a lineage of great South African artists.
Voices of the Audience
The evening’s impact was echoed in audience responses. One attendee, Oratile, said, “This was more than what I expected.” Another explained through tears, “I became emotional to an extent that I couldn’t control my emotions… ‘Ndinovalo’ kept me going when I lost hope. This was worth it and more.”
More Than a Performance
By the night’s end, it was clear that Echibini was more than an event — it was an answered call. It offered a well from which women could draw healing, empowerment, and community. As attendees left renewed and uplifted, one truth was unmistakable: sometimes the deepest strength comes when we pause, gather, and drink deeply together.
By Asenam Feni
