Gospel singer and worship leader Takie Ndou (born Aubrey Takalani) is beloved in his native South Africa as well as around the globe; his admirers include American gospel superstar VaShawn Mitchell, who spotlighted the Limpopo-born Ndou on his 2020 album Africa Worship. There are plenty of reasons for Ndou’s international success: on top of possessing a highwire-like vocal style and an energising approach to worship, he has developed a sound that, like his popularity, reaches across borders. Jumpstarting his recording career in 2004 (shortly after quitting his day job in IT), Ndou has dropped a stack of albums, including 2018’s crackling Hope Arise, that showcase his gift for cross-pollinating Mzansi gospel with both American-inspired urban contemporary gospel and the latest trends in praise & worship. It’s an expansive, cross-generational sound that also extends to his collaborative work, like Ndou’s duet records with Rofhiwa Manyaga and his appearances on the star-studded Spirit of Praise, Vol. 7.