Blurring borderlines

Source : KUTLWANO

Author : Ndingililo Gaoswediwe

Location : GABORONE

Event : Artists feature

Article: Ndingililo Gaoswediwe

Photos: Gothusang Lesego & courtesy of Jah Prayzah

Make up: Signature (Rail Park)

Stylist: Sydney Rankwe

Wardrobe: IDL (Game City)

I can imagine what went through Charma Gal`s mind when an unknown foreign number suddenly appeared on her cellphone screen. She must have frowned upon the caller as a fraudsters hell bent on laying his filthy fingers on her hard earned money. Disgusted, she would cut off the caller or just ignore the phone.

On the other hand, her Zimbabwean admirer must have felt inexplicably unlucky to hit a brick wall especially that he was such a big fan of Charma Gal and Culture Spears. 

“I tried calling her many times and sometimes she would even cut my calls, I failed to understand why a people`s person would not tolerate her fans like that,” recalls Jah Prayzah born Mukudzeyi Mukombe in north eastern rural Zimbabwe`s Uzumba village.

To make matters worse, the Zimbabwean admirer was by then just another guy from next door. “Well back then I was not popular such that it was difficult for me to even get a steady conversation with her and discuss anything about a duet,” reckons the father of two.

Charma Gal corroborates this story, saying Jah Prayzah started phoning her in 2010 but she was not interested in his calls because she did not know him. However, what is meant to be, will be. Jah Prayzah and Charma Gal were fated for each other and it was just a matter of time before the two found each other.

It was not until Jah Prayzah paid Charma Gal a surprise visit in 2012 that everything started unfolding. “My Botswana friend, Mingo, then introduced her to me,” says an elated Jah Prayzah.

The following morning, without any script, they were to record something in the studio to convince each other they were “meant for each other”. Each used their mother tongue to give birth to Darlie Wangu.

Interestingly, Charma Gal and Jah Prayzah`s collaboration brings to mind the biblical story of the Babel Tower. Through one common speech for all people, God, through his infinite wisdom knew construction of the Babel Tower would lead people away from Him. 

As a result, He confused their language, causing them to speak different languages so they would not understand each other. By doing this, God thwarted their plans. He also scattered the people of the city all over the face of the earth.

However, as God scattered people, it happened that two musicians, Charma Gal, otherwise known as Magdaline Lesolebe and Jah Prayzah, which means Praise God or Mukudzeyi in Shona, would land in Botswana and Zimbabwe respectively.  They also happened to speak two different mother tongues.  

“I am Zimbabwean, Charma is Tswana, and the best way to integrate our two diverse cultures is by adopting the different languages and using them to send one message,” explains Jah Prayzah about his collaboration song with Charma Gal, Dalie Wangu, from his latest album, Kumbumura Mhute. 

The song is a composition of Shona and Setswana, a hit that has undoubtedly demystified the story of the Babel Tower in that the duo has managed to reach deep into the hearts of many a Motswana and Zimbabwean and defying man made borders. 

“Basically Dalie Wangu is making people crazy here in Zimbabwe, with people singing along to every word of it including Charma`s, very few of them even understand what she is saying. That alone shows how powerful music can be, reckons Jah Prayzah.

Examples abound of people enjoying music from Congo and Senegal without even understanding the lyrics, he adds, noting that “at the end of the day if we make people happy, we have a better Africa with a positive attitude”.

“We should not act like politicians…and fool the people into fighting. As musicians, if we are to fight let us leave the music to fight when we perform on stage,” Charma Gal is quoted by NewsDay Zimbabwe in one of her interviews with the newspaper.

Thus, while at the political and economic levels the South African Development Community is struggling to realise full economic integration, musicians such as Charma Gal and Jah Prayzah are proving it is possible if people put their minds to it. 

The Uzumba born star believes in diverse art that transcends human constructs of tribe, race or country. Cultural exchanges, he says, allow people to grow not only as artists but as Africans. The more people share ideas the more they develop. 

On the other hand, Charma Gal adds that she learnt a lot through her collaboration with Jah Prayzah. She says people perceive Batswana as a spiteful nation but not until they visit the country to appreciate that “we are a welcoming people.” 

Meanwhile, Darlie Wangu is about two love birds who are crazy in love. However, the father to the boyfriend does not approve of the girl. So basically the message is “love at the end always prevails as long as it`s true love”. ENDS

Teaser:

...at the end of the day if we make people happy, we have a better Africa.