ALL LANGUAGES ARE IMPORTANT: ALBERT NYATHI

Albert Nyath (3rd from right) with participants before recording and his Team.
(From Right: Bhekumusa Moyo,Ozin Nyathi,Albert,Nozi,
Dereck,Qeqeshiwe Mlambo,Dumi Nyongola,Nomaqhawe Moyo

ARE YOU CONSCIOUS that Art is a strong tool that can work to communicate and heal souls without exposing them to public scrutiny. Language on the other side is the backbone of society and its culture. With numerous studies showing the increase of gender based violence in Zimbabwe, varying efforts have been employed to curb it. Since the subject has some incommunicable components, art can be a personal journey and music searches the soul. The project seeks to bring to the Album 20 different voices in their respective languages to speak in one accord against gender based violence.

This time around Albert Nyathi and his team had a one stop task after travelling across the country in search of voices that can churn and scintillate the nation denouncing gender based violence through song. 

"It was a lifetime experience travelling from Harare to Binga, snaking up and down the Tonga land and finding the team in Hwange where coal is made and a plethora of languages are housed in the industrial hub. The heat cooked the team to understand that Zimbabwe is diverse enough to be complimented in its versatility. The team landed on the world wonder of Victoria Falls where Zimbabwe meets the world before journeying to Chiredzi to audition Shangaan/Tsonga in the sugar lands. The journey turned to Beitbridge, the border town for the Vhenda language and later to Gwanda for Sotho,Kalanga and other various sweet Zimbabwean languages at the Joshua Nkomo Polytechnic. Mbembesi for Xhosa and Plumtree for further Kalanga were not spared as the search for deep seated talent went on", Albert Nyathi said

"This time, it was recording and workshopping of the selected voices from these vast areas of Zimbabwe which in the past were called minorities before the new constitution recognised all of them as languages of the nation. The recording will be done in phases so as to deepen the lyrical content and quality of work as well as specialise genres without contamination as well as workshop the artistes to leave as Ambassadors of anti-Gender Based Violence Campaigns. The first phase had participants selected from Binga, Hwange,Victoria falls and Chiredzi converging in Bulawayo at 10^th District Studios where they underwent a rigorous week of expressing their thoughts on gender based violence through music and sound. Albert Nyathi, Dumi Nyongola (voice Coach), Dereck and Tswarelo Mothobe were key in the production. These are veterans in music production, lyricism and coaching", Bhekumusa Moyo, the Project's MnE Specialist Advisor added.

Some of the artistes attested to LiNkundla that for sure they were linked with a CONSCIOUS Opportunity which they learnt of the Auditions through this platform. Below are excerpts from the conversations.

“I have never been to a studio before. This experience is life changing. I wish to thank Mr Nyathi and his team for giving me this opportunity. I never thought that issues of gender Based Violence were serious until I started to sing about them. Now I feel the importance, in every line I sing I feel like a different person. My mother will be proud of me after hearing my role in stopping Gender Based Violence. I will share with my community and also continue to sing about it. Lastly, I have never been to Bulawayo, its my first time and am happy”- Mathew Ndlovu from Victoria Falls.

 “At first I was scared. The whole setup gave me goose bumps. I was not sure if I was the right person but Dumi (Voice Coach) gave me enough confidence to move on until I was able to believe in my voice. This was truly life changing. As a young woman, I feel like an ambassador for other women from my community”- Nomathamsanqa Moyo (Nambya), Hwange

“Coming from Gwanda, deep in rural. Bulawayo was itself amazing. The training and lyrics arrangement was amazing. After listening to my voice with instruments, I felt that Sotho language was as nice as all languages. I can’t wait to get to hear myself on radio. This project must continue for many years at it gives our cultures and languages a chance to be heard”- Ozin Nyathi (Sotho) Gwanda

“Chewa was difficult when we started as we have few beats. But the team, Dereck, Tswa and albert helped me. I panicked from the start but now I am feeling confident. I will continue to write songs on GBV and change my community.”-  Victor Phiri (Chewa) Hwange East.

Author : LINKUNDLA

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