BY Nkosazana Ngwadla
KekeLingo presents his first solo body of work, Pula EP. Featuring authentic African melodies, vocals, and rhythmic drums, Pula encompasses five captivating tracks, showcasing a diverse range of artists from Grammy Award winners and emerging producers. With vocals originating from Swaziland, Botswana and Lesotho, Pula stands as a remarkable testament to African unity and is a global collection of sounds curated by KekeLingo.
Track one on the EP, titled ‘Pula’ is an ode to love, telling the story about a king declaring his love for his queen, and asking mother nature to bless them with rain so that it can bless their love. The second track on the EP, the recently released Afro House treasure ‘Jeteme’ in collaboration with Zakes Bantwini and Mpho. Wav has already ignited soundwaves across the Afro House and Afro Tech genre and has featured in multiple Apple and Spotify music playlists since its release.
Track three titled ‘Ithemba’ (Litsomo Version) is in collaboration with music producer John Lundun and features Lesotho-born singer-songwriter Leomile and traditional Tshivenda and indie-folk singer-songwriter, MuNeyi. Transitioning seamlessly, the fourth track, ‘Unale Gade’ (Remix) comes to life through a dynamic partnership with singer-songwriter and professional Jazz Pianist Nhlonipho who hails from Swaziland. As the EP draws to a close, listeners can expect to be immersed in the soul-stiring ‘Pula’ Reprise, featuring the exceptional talents of Dato Seiko.
“Lingonians, I am thrilled to introduce to you ‘Pula,’ my inaugural solo creation. In my native language of Setswana, ‘Pula’ translates to ‘Rain.’ Throughout history, both kings and queens have prayed for rain, or ‘Pula,’ to bestow its blessings upon their lands and people. My aspiration for this musical endeavour is to provide healing, not only for myself but for all Lingonians from diverse walks of life who will experience this EP. ‘Pula’ stands as a spiritual and sonic expression of affection to my beloved continent, Africa. This collection resonates with the melodious vibrations of Kekelingo, a language deeply spiritual to me, conveyed through African chants and an abundance of emotions that transport me to a sacred realm.”
The Pula EP wil be available on all digital service providers on August 25.
Image: Instagram
