Aslay and Nandy in a Romantic Duet, "Subalkheri Mpenzi"

In Subalkheri Mpenzi we're served a sumptuous, delectable, stylized -- and pop -- rendition of a classic Love Song in Swahili, the deep-rooted and expanding lingua franca of East Africa. Classic Taarab, sung in Swahili along the East African coast, was pop, in its heyday. It is, in fact, still part of the living culture. And so why not pop Taarab (or Taarab pop) once again, in our time -- in this song -- all protocols observed? It is, indeed, all of that and more.

(Subalkheri means Good Morning, or simply Morning; Mpenzi = Lover, or Love, or Baby, or Babe)

Click here to watch the video

Wonderful tunes perfectly suited for this romantic, this musical, this morning tete-a-tete spice an idyllic day which we're allowed to share. Old familiar vibes, and remembered phrases and lyrical lines, come back to life in the socialized ear, in Subalkheri! The mood is typical coastal. So is the tempo of the doings of the villagers and the neighbours -- all tenderly weaved into a community. Everything comes to a climax on this day in a seemingly impromptu afternoon jam.

A magical, choral flourish seeps in at the start, in timed measures, from the backdrop, and spices the duet and the air with fine, fine voices. A choir, unseen, thus adds aural verve to a fabulous and poetic encounter between lover and lover, in a serene and sun-bathed countryside not far from the sea. 

It's a place steeped in its old ways, as we see, but fully endowed with such visual charms as would conquer the heart of the foot-loose artist armed only with paint and brush -- and appropriate canvas. And it can still throw a 'mean' party on no notice at all. 

Still, one notices that urban lingo (sprinkled in surprising ways with English) is gradually creeping in, through the dreams and fears and songs of the next generation.

~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~

Aslay and Nandy have sung together before, in late 2017, in a song titled Mahabuba; but all that we have of it remains an audio. A behind-the-scenes "photoshoot" of the song's video already exists, for sure -- and already has just over 700k views today -- January 30th, 2018. Aslay has a song by himself, as well, which was published in 2017 and titled Muhudumu. This was probably a factor in their teaming up for Mahabuba. Those are the only instances I know of right now that Aslay has 'come into view'. But Nandy, we already (felt that we) knew her -- and spectacularly so after Kelele za Chura.

Click here for the video lyric for Sabalkheri Mpenzi

All Due Credit to: Hanscana, the Director


Updated: April 12, 2018