Nataal is proud to launch this very special mix by Mpumii Mcata from BLK JKS (aka BLKJKSSNDSYSTM) and Emeka Alams of conceptual clothing brand Gold Coast Trading Co. At almost an hour long, it’s a musical reflection on the troubled times we’ve all experienced in recent months that aims to give us a moment to think about ways to further global Black connectivity and rebuild as old systems fall.

“While working on new collections and creative informative projects for the brand I've been stuck chasing the words to describe this seismic first step on the path of millions of steps we need to walk down as a people and I thought a mix might be the moment to do that,” Alams explains. “The mix isn't necessarily the reaction to this moment but at least it’s a space to collect thoughts. A pause, maybe.”

So he reached out to Mcata to deftly handle the mix, to photographer Sarah de Burgh to visualise the project using her shots from the Los Angeles BLM protests, and to Enid Ze, the musical persona of Zimbabwean-born singer/songwriter Nyasha Chiundiza, whose new track ‘Saviour’ wraps up this sonic journey.

“Saviour is about being an African, on the continent and abroad. It’s about the moment one realises you have everything you need. That in fact, it’s better to have little than to have the plenty that makes you dependent on someone else. Human creativity and freedom spring from necessity, not necessarily from plentitude,” says Chiundiza. “The song starts with screeching guitars, crashing drums and symbols, resolving in the signature guitar riff, and ends with a wordless lullaby, an homage to childhood - the source of the imagination, ever present if one has the courage to seek it.”

The mix also includes such classic protest songs as Nina Simone’s ‘Young Gifted & Black’, Fred Wesley & The J.B’s ‘Damn Right I Am Somebody’ and Bad Brains’ ‘Banned In DC’ alongside contemporary self-care songs by the likes of Sons of Kemet, Thandiswa Mazwai and Desire Marea. Meanwhile the wise words of Miriam Makeba from a 1969 interview lilts in and out on top. Listen, feel and heal.

Here Mcata has the last word:

A Mix For All Those Of Us Who Are Sick And Tired Of Being,

Sick And Tired, Cos We Are Sick And Tired, Of Being Sick And Tired Ad Infinitum,

I Hope This Adds Some Wood To The Fires Currently Burning Around The World Regarding Justice And The Dignity Of Our Human Rights, All This Violence Caused Simply By The Evil And Stupidity Of Those In So Called Power Must Be Ended, They Work For Us, So Let Us Move, And Let Us Look Forward To A Day When The Young Ones Will Listen To A Mix Like This

(Beautiful As The Music Is) And Be Shocked As To Why Some Of These Songs Ever Even Had To Be Written

Peace Be

MPUMi

Photography Sarah de Burgh

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Visit Enid Ze

Published on 13/08/2020