BLACK UMFOLOSI
WASHABALAL’ UMHLABA - Earth Song
Release date: 24th July 2020
Cat ID: EUCD2913
Earth Song is Black Umfolosi’s15th internationally released album; a gorgeous array of velvety harmonies, phenomenally tight percussion, subtly evolving melodies and joyous Gospel. These nine new a cappella tracks celebrate Earth and her people, faith, and everyday life that we may otherwise take for granted.
Black Umfolosi are a 38-year-strong performing group from Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. They have been referred to as Zimbabwe’s Vocal Newspaper and Cultural Ambassadors due to their international success since the group was founded in 1982, and for their commentary on the environment, culture and wish to unify mankind:
“Our music is not only a form of entertainment but a means to spread love and peace. There is a need for racial and social injustices to be alleviated.
We support the Black Lives Matter movement because our concern as musicians and world travellers is that this would be a lovely world if there was peace, respect and love at the forefront of every human relationship.
We embrace cultural differences and do not see people for the race they belong to; we see diversity amongst humans as something beautiful. Music unites everyone from different ethnic backgrounds, race, gender and age, and just as our music is impactful without colour, so should be everything else.” – Thomeki Dube, Black Umfolosi
The opening track of Earth Song is a prayer for success in Coming Your Way: “time for happiness… Let our footsteps last forever…”. Usemafini follows,a beautiful call-and-response gospel song that glorifies the “Creator of Heaven and Earth, the Beginning and the End”.
Washabalal’umhlaba, the title track, is for the preservation of the planet and our environment: “There are other generations to come after us and we can achieve a better earth by taking care of our environment because it takes care of us”.
The final track, Ihoso Beat, is an energetic mix of drums, shaker, clapping and whistling all in the style of Amabhiza, a traditional dance from Zimbabwe’s Kalanga people.
The song that first put the band on the map was the 2012 release of Unity which is renowned and loved in Zimbabwe. The track is often used for commercials on Independence Day due to its message of uniting all people and the importance of peace for development to take place. The message of the song is based on an African Proverb which is the ongoing ethos of Black Umfolosi: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
For further information please contact Amelia Zimmatore | amelia@arcmusic.co.uk | +44(0)1342 770478
ARC Music Productions Int Ltd, PO Box 111, East Grinstead, RH19 4FZ, UK | www.arcmusic.co.uk