Chiwamba, Sangie bring out the beauty in music, poetry
It is not every day that artists from different genres come together to work together, but such is the case in the recently released joint project that features renowned poet Robert Chiwamba and musician Sangie.
The two artists have collaborated on a poem and song project titled Chikondano.
The composition is based on a Christian hymn Chikondano. As the song rolls in the background, Chiwamba and Sangie alternate in delivering the song’s stanza in song and verse.
| Courtesy of Robert Chiwamba
In an interview yesterday, Chiwamba said music and poetry sit on the opposite sides of the same coin as music is just the song version of spoken word poetry.
“Through such collaborations, we are able to tap into each other’s audience. In this case, my followers and Sangie’s fans will both support the project. It also allows you to bring out a new form of art in the process increasing our creativity,” he said.
The poet said the song is the first single on his upcoming album, Evangelist Shadreck Wame, scheduled for release on August 3. He said the album comprise eight hymn and poetry compositions featuring Sangie and two poems.
This is the third time the two artists have come together to marry poetry and music. Their first joint project Ngwazi Zazikazi won the European Union’s Europaid Devco Communications Award as the best communications act of a European Union Project globally.
Their second joint project is Mtanda, which amassed 750 000 YouTube views so far.
A day after its release, Chikondano recorded over 50 000 YouTube views.
Chiwamba said: “The time we had together as ambassadors for the European Union and Unesco’s Skills and Technical Education Programme helped us understand each other and work together. It taught us that merging the two art facets was beneficial.”
On her part, Sangie said he was honoured by Chiwamba’s invitation to work with her on the project. She said she was pleased to be introduced to the poetry audience.
She said: “He picked the hymns, some that I knew and some which I had to learn on the spot. It was an exciting and fun experience. The challenge is on the identity and expectations. There will always be that brand confusion if the music is considered gospel.
“You can end up being invisible to either side. The risk is on pleasing neither side.”
The song was recorded at Don Foxxy Productions by Don Foxxy. The video features St Peter’s and Paul Balaka Anglican Parish’s Mothers Union Choir.
