Anna explains: “I first fell in love with this mbira* traditional tune at the age of 21, during a brief visit to my homeland of Zimbabwe. My Uncle Babasimba was my mbira mentor. He taught me this tune which I then adapted and added lyrics that expressed my feelings about modern day life."
The song is in the Shona language of Zimbabwe. It translates that when faced with migrating away from home, in search of work, a better life and ‘the dollar,’ one can become lonely and confused. Not everyone will feel welcome or welcomed. Anna compares the feeling of being lost in a forest with more likely feelings of being lost in a city like Harare, Joburg, Toronto, New York or perhaps London.
“It can be very lonely and sometimes frightening when being a long way from home, family and friends“ she said, "but we can be happy. We can find what we are looking for!” The song’s lyrics say it doesn’t matter where you are – you will try and make life what you want it to be – whether in the darkness of an African bush or being dazzled by a city’s ‘Bright Lights!’
“When I first played Dendende to my band, they were all very enthusiastic about it," she said. "I knew we could transform the song into the upbeat, wild and energetic sound it has become. Our audiences love singing along with it and they seem to dance to it like as if there is no-one watching!”
Dendende the single is out 9th February (iTunes/Amazon) as a digital download. Listen to a preview of the single here:
https://soundcloud.com/tontena/anna-mudeka-band-dendende-single/s-LOprI
Listen to two tracks from the album here:
https://soundcloud.com/tontena/anna-mudeka-band-bande/s-Sldu8
https://soundcloud.com/tontena/anna-mudeka-band-mai-rebekha/s-BEchr
DENDENDE the album will be released 27th April in both digital download format and on CD.
Both the single and the album has been recorded and produced by John Vigar for Tontena Music.
- mbira is sometimes described as a 'Thumb Piano.' It is a traditional musical instruments of Zimbabwe.
All profits from the single will be donated to The Mudeka Foundation (Registered Charity No 1143733).
Post published in: Dance