OPINION: When music transcends language barrier then that’s great music
5 December 2013
Music is a positive vibration, music is happiness, music is medicine and music is the voice of those who cannot speak up – Salif Keita on Coke Studio Africa.
Even when the language is different the one thing we all relate and connect with is the language of music.
Across Africa, and all over the world, every musician or singer will tell you that it not all about the chords and riffs they create but also the emotion they spread through their music.
The one thing that musicians from west and South Africa have discovered is embracing their local languages even when composing their songs. And music knowing no boundaries their songs are played all over the world and we even jam to some of their songs locally.
The one question we should ask ourselves is whether our songs are given that much airplay the same way we do here.
‘Khona’ by Mafilizolo is one song that is loved by many music fans in Kenya but most people don’t know what they actually mean in the song.
Well ‘Khona’ is Zulu and I thought it was a party/feel good song only to realize later that it’s a sad song about a loved one lost. Now that’s the definition of great music when you actually don’t understand the language but you enjoy it.
It’s high time our musicians in Kenya took up the challenge and stopped thinking that for their songs to become hits they should use English. Whether in Kamba, Luo, Maasai, Borana or sheng if it’s a great song it will break the boundaries.
So, the next time you find yourself jamming to a song done in a language you don’t understand, appreciate the artist for the great music.
Music is a universal language.
Even when the language is different the one thing we all relate and connect with is the language of music.
Across Africa, and all over the world, every musician or singer will tell you that it not all about the chords and riffs they create but also the emotion they spread through their music.
The one thing that musicians from west and South Africa have discovered is embracing their local languages even when composing their songs. And music knowing no boundaries their songs are played all over the world and we even jam to some of their songs locally.
The one question we should ask ourselves is whether our songs are given that much airplay the same way we do here.
‘Khona’ by Mafilizolo is one song that is loved by many music fans in Kenya but most people don’t know what they actually mean in the song.
Well ‘Khona’ is Zulu and I thought it was a party/feel good song only to realize later that it’s a sad song about a loved one lost. Now that’s the definition of great music when you actually don’t understand the language but you enjoy it.
It’s high time our musicians in Kenya took up the challenge and stopped thinking that for their songs to become hits they should use English. Whether in Kamba, Luo, Maasai, Borana or sheng if it’s a great song it will break the boundaries.
So, the next time you find yourself jamming to a song done in a language you don’t understand, appreciate the artist for the great music.
Music is a universal language.
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