Singeli Queens, Tanzanian Singeli collective, bring in Sammy Donnar, Kadilida, Mayja Wa Moro and Ammy Voice for “Mapenzi”, a multi-voice collaboration about love made to move.
Five names on a single Singeli record seems ambitious but it’s a feat the Singeli Queens have proven themselves capable of handling a crowded lineup without losing direction. Their previous works such as “Udugu” and “Mtamu” demonstrated a group able to make space for each voice in a fast-moving collective performance. So “Mapenzi” doesn’t feel like a disorganized feature dump. It’s a creative gathering of artists that have worked together before, and it’s organized.
The emotional identity of the record comes from the love theme that runs thru “Mapenzi”. But Singeli does not slow down for romance – the genre picks up the pace and carries the feeling forward at its signature rapid-fire tempo. So the result is love music that energizes, not relaxes. That one characteristic is what makes Singeli records about love sound different from Bongo Flava love songs. The feeling is not less real. The delivery is much less patient.
Kadilida, Sammy Donnar, Mayja Wa Moro and Ammy Voice each have their own vocal styles which helps make the record interesting for its full runtime. No one in the lineup sounds like anyone else. And so the track keeps changing personality without losing its collective identity – which is precisely the challenge a five-act Singeli collaboration sets itself.
The official video also came with the audio, giving “Mapenzi” the full rollout from day one.
Watch the video on YouTube and let us know which artist came thru hardest on ‘Mapenzi’ – drop your pick below!
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