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Black Muntu
have outdone themselves this time. With Kokoliko the duo have
proved that they are definitely and unmistakably icons in the
Zambian music arena. Kokoliko is a really hot album with 16
tracks that range from talking about AIDS to bachelorhood to
what a party should be. On this album, Black Muntu extend the
range of the languages they sing from their native tongues
Bemba and Nyanja; Kokoliko also has songs in Tonga, Lozi and
Lamba.
Leo Bweupe
and Mwembe Chulu made their mark when they released their
debut album Wisakamana back in December 1999. Leo and Mwembe
are now firmly established as Zambia's leading vernacular rap
artists.
Why
Black Muntu?
They
rap like the record business is going to end tomorrow. They
can rock any house, any time, anywhere.
Awards:
Black Muntu won a Ngoma Award at last year's (2001) award
ceremony.
What
is Kalifunku?
This
is a type of music that Black Muntu invented by mixing two
styles of traditional Zambian music - kalindula and Funkutu.
ABOUT THE
MUSIC
The album
kicks off with the funky and melodic track It's Okay.
This is a track done in Nyanja and Bemba. This somewhat funky
track centres around a man who defends the woman he loves and
the love that he has for her. The song basically says that if
you have someone in your life and people want to hate you for
it, it's alright because that person's love will sustain you.
Ubushimbe
means bachelorhood and this version of the classic song was
written and produced by Joe Chibangu. This is the first ever
recorded work by upcoming young Tasila Mwale, who was the
winner of the idols Zambia competition earlier this year. This
track has a girl and a guy both complaining about being single
and lonely and are looking for a mate. They envy people who
are in relationships and fantasize about having someone and
how much they would give that person.
Track Number
3 is Ichila Te Chila. This feel-good song done
in Bemba and Nyanja is a tribute to all Black Muntu's fans who
have supported them over the years, as well as to all the
Deejays who have been playing their music. The song simply
says a party is a not a pa1rty without a Deejay, without
friends and without food and wine.
Kamuboola
is also a party like song that is already dominating radio
airwaves here in Zambia. Sung in Tonga, this dance song is
about a young man inviting his family and friends to celebrate
with him as he marries the woman of his dreams.
Nko-Nko-Nko
is a touching melody of a person who has never seen his
father. The person wants to know who the father is. It also
comes as advice to men who simply have children and end up not
looking after them.
Number 6 on
the Kokoliko album is Katanga. A
man tells his girl that if she doesn't want him, he will move
on and find another one that will appreciate the love he
gives. After all, he has more to lose by sticking around when
she probably has another man, and in the end might infect him
with STD or HIV. look out for more sublime guitar work from
Jones Kabanga.
Slot number 7
is taken by a dance tune Kabudo. The duo
reminisce about the 'good old days'. The song talks about how
things have changed from the time they were young. The song
says 'we used to wish we were older, now that we are growing
older we are scared because we are closer to death'.
Kokoliko
is the sound of a rooster at early dawn. The
sound of the rooster calls upon the lazy young
people to get up and do something with their
lives instead of just lazing about. The title
of the album says WAKE UP, work hard, and play
hard but don't play too much.
Track 9 is Ba
Lupwa Bandi, a track done in Lamba. In this song,
Black Muntu continue their theme of performing songs that face
today's social problems head on. An AIDS patient begs his
family not to leave him alone as he lies in his deathbed. He
apologizes to his family for the life he led in his past and
wishes he could have led a better life.
Kamulya
Weka comes to you as track number 10.
Each and everyone of us has the type f friend
that Black Muntu rap about in the song. This
Nyanja track written by Exile, co-written by
Black Muntu is about a stingy, self-centred
guy who hides from his friends when he has money
and only goes back to them when he runs out
of money. This is one of the most funky songs
ever made within the borders of the Republic
of Zambia.
Track number
11 which is titled Utoloto. This
Bemba track raises awareness to strange happenings
in this world. It is all about the youth and
how they should not be overzealous in their
behavior for they shall end up being sorry.
It touches on teenage pregnancies, incest and
other major issues that are perplexing mankind.
The next track
is one that is bound to bring tears to the eye.
Nkasi Yandi Kosa touches on the
topic of women in this country who go through
so much hardship. They have to sometimes raise
their children single handedly, some women are
in miserable marriages but one way or the other
they try and make ends meet. In this track,
Leo and Mwembe try to encourage women to be
even stronger and tell them that they are the
rulers of this world and deserve all the respect.
Mli alimanwi,
a track sang in Lozi, written by Mwembe Chulu and co-written
by Saboi Imboela of Shatel, also features Joseph Nkhoma of New
Age. The song talks about a woman calling upon a notorious man
to calm down and work things out at home. She reminds him that
the children they together make them one blood. The man in
turn replies by promising the woman that he would change and
would stop being the "bad ugly".
Child rape is
rampant the world over. Everyday we see in the press how young
children are being defiled. Chitenge which is
the 14th track criticizes an old man for ripping a young girl
off. The song is somewhat explicit in it's criticism of men
who con young girls into sleeping with them by promising money
and other material things. Unfortunately, the only thing the
girls end up gaining are sexually transmitted diseases, HIV
and unwanted pregnancies.
Ngana
Lishibe is a lament by a person wishing
they had never been born. he basically feels
unappreciated and unloved and feels there is
no happiness on this earth. Finally, the song
encourages us all to realise that God has a
plan for us and we should be thankful to him.
The
album ends with Chinimanga, which is
guaranteed to get partygoers dancing along to the
beat and the rhythm. A guy feels tied to his woman
emotionally. he says there are times when he feels
like leaving her but he fails to do so because of
the love he has for her.
Date:
Tuesday 30 July 2002
Keep
Zambian Music Alive
Courtesy
of Mondo Music
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