Multi-award winning journalist, author, music producer, DJ and songwriter, Mzilikazi wa Afrika calls for Africa to rise and unite through his new album, Rise.
Known as Mzee in the music cycles, Wa Afrika's new album comes after 12 years of not releasing music. Boasting with 25 tracks, the album hit the digital stores worldwide on June 25.
Though the album is not breaking any chart records yet, it is doing fairly well and being streamed all over the world. The Pan African album is a potpourri of different sounds offering a taste of Afrosoul, traditional and dance music. In achieving the goal of getting Africans united, Mzee features collaborations with talented Africans like Salif Keita (Mali), Hashish Papa (Namibia), Bholoja (Swaziland), Femi Koya (Nigeria), Kadialy Kouyate (Senegal) and Oluhle, a Zimbabwean-born UK-based singer .
Locally, the Bushbuckridge-born and raised worked with Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Soweto Gospel Choir, Brenda Mtambo, Mbuso Khoza, King Mzizi and Phila Dlozi, among others. Wa Afrika who last recorded his album in 2009 titled Tamanini spoke to Sowetan about his new offering.
How is Rise doing?
The album is only 14 days old. It is picking up digitally slowly. The response that I am getting shows that people love the album. Rise is such a significant album for me, it's a conversation I am having with myself and the world. The album is released worldwide digitally and few months will release a physical copy because there is a demand for that. Since this is a Pan African album I had to work with different artists who represent different parts of Africa. The theme is Rise and I wanted to inspire people and all Africans to stand up and fight for Africa wherever we are.
What was the reason behind taking such a long break?
I was trying to build my record label which is Bomba Afrika Records. Secondly, I wanted to focus on my artists and make sure their albums are out. I had to prioritise them and not sign people and still put myself first. I have been working on this album for six years. I will record one song and add voices and do other things. When lockdown started, I began working on the songs which some were recorded in 2016. For example, the first song Africa that features Boloja was recorded in 2016, while the song I did with Soweto Gospel Choir was done in 2018.
What was the strategy used in choosing artists featured?
As a producer, when you work on a song you always know what kind of voice needed to make it work. Some of these artists featured I have been following their works, while others I have been a big fan of their music. For example in the song My Teacher Taught Me Nonsense, I wanted to honour Nigerian pioneer of Afro-beat Fela Kuti. I wanted to work with his son Femi but he was not available.
I chose Femi Koya because I had worked with him before. The song We Are All Africans that features Salif Keita was recorded in 2016 while he was in South Africa. I am also a fan of his work and we had great time when I spent 15 days in Mali. Zena Edwards who is from England, I was introduced to her work when she was featured by Pops Mohamed.
How do you define your sound?
My sound is Afro-house. I define it as ancestral house because the music has elements of old house sound and the traditional sounds that I grew up listening to it. I am trying to revive that old sound and adding a modernised twist to it. I am trying to speak to ancestors. If you can listen properly this is not a commercial album.
What is difference between the previous album and Rise?
Rise is an extension of my previous album. Like in my previous one, I have worked with young producers to groom them and also learn from them. Songs in the album are mostly written by me but there are few songs that were written by others. My songs are inspired by life in life challenges and life in general. As an artist, you try to be an advocate and be eyes of the society looking at what is happening. As much as music is expected to entertain, it must also inform and educate. I am inspired by simple things and general politics of Africa and try to inspire other people.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.