B a n t u S p a c e s h i p consists of Fulani Okandlovu (Vocalist/Songwriter/Artist) from Bulawayo and Joshua Chiundiza (DJ/Producer/Artist) from Harare. The duo presents a hybrid sound, merging electro, hip hop and rap, with mbaqanga, imbube, sungura, jit, chimurenga and other Bantu music styles. Specifically borrowing elements from their Ndebele and Shona Heritage, the duo blends two of Zimbabwe’s most dominant cultures into one foretelling and uncharted soundscape.
January 20th 2023 marked the launch date for ‘Bantu Electro Sungura’, the second single taken from their self-titled debut album.
Bantu Spaceship will have listeners embark on a journey. A journey that feels like you are being taken through a portal into another time: Afrofuturism. The rhythms give you a sense of the past, while you also sense the future with all the synth sounds. This track will have you playing it on repeat while you are travelling from town to village and vice versa.
‘Bantu– Electro Sungura’ will awaken you to the future of Zimbabwean music. Ulenni’s harmonies, inspired by LMG Choir, bring a nostalgia that might touch certain emotions as the recollection rushes back, synthesised and charged with electro vibes. The dancing shoes are in full swing as the dusty village late afternoon sun meets the club night dance floor.
This is where the mark of Joshua Chiundiza, the main composer behind Bantu Spaceship, really shows up, unmasked, as he unveils what is possibly the future of authentic Zimbabwean music. The magic touch comes from contributing guitarist Sam Mabukwa – lead guitarist of Ngosimbi Crew, a band best known for their late 90s hit ‘Pamuchato WaTobias’. Mabukwa’s Sungura skills serenade the urban swag into a breathtaking sound that surely reaches other planetary lifeforms! Vocalist Ulenni Okandlovu makes a sincere plea to a lover to spare him the pain of a heartbreak. His delivery and vocal tone are reminiscent of the legendary Solomon Skuza, likely to cause a deja vu effect on those who have experienced the music of that era.
Chiundiza’s production sounds like something that was picked out of the archives of the mid-eighties Jit and Chimurenga music and then carefully blended with elements of Disco and Electronic sounds. His mix makes for a beautiful excursion through a landscape of memories lived and futures imagined. Ulenni Okandlovu, serves as the voice, the Captain of the ship, guiding us by way of Ndebele chants, laid back melodies and poetic verses. His calm nature enhances the experience as it sits comfortably on the music, creating the illusion that making music like this is an easy feat… It isn’t – uniqueness never is.
This album surely safeguards Zimbabwe’s original contemporary sounds and disrupts the conclusion that it may be swallowed in the ever changing world of music. Nyami Nyami Records have found another gem! Welcome to New Jit Wave- an adaptation of Jit music. Welcome to Bantu Spaceship. Prepare to be launched into a new paradigm. Thank goodness it’s only the beginning.
Stream ‘Bantu Electro Sungura’ HERE
Record label: Nyami Nyami Records
Watch out for the album release: March 10th 2023 on vinyl and digital formats.
