 His father, Felix Thamsanqa Yenana, had a huge collection of music, ranging from jazz to Motown, and other forms of urban black music and this had a huge influence in Andile's life.Andile took up music studies under Darius Brubeck at the University of Natal's School of Jazz and Popular Music It was here that he became friends with saxophonist Zim Ngqawana and trumpeter Feya Faku.He joined Zim Ngqawana's quartet and worked with Zim Ngqawana on all 5 of his albums, including "San Song" recorded with Bjorn Ole Solburg and his Norwegian San Ensemble.