“Acoustic Afro Drums & Chants” by Abakisimba Troupe – Kenya
GET YOUR TASTE, SUPPORT THE ARTISTS & GET IT HERE: https://maxdoblhoff.bandcamp.com/albu…
Kithembe’ is a roots chant of call and response praising the mystery of the Kamba drum. Brought together by Kenya’s Post Election Violence of 2007/8, Abaki Simba is a collective of Rastafarians based in Nairobi, teaching unity, peace and environmental action through music. Kithembe uses proverbs and similes to relay a powerful journey of word and sound in daily living. The song radiates a rhythmic message from the ancestors through their poignant belief in African metaphysics.
Kithembe is a message of awareness. Kithembe is a chant of perspective. Kithembe is rhythm; rhythm rules the world! Kithembe is a call to youth to remember their roots in a time of distraction and deceit.
Lyrics: English
The drum is mystic, This drum I play, And when it sounds forth you have to answer the call, When the buffalo horn blows, You should know there is an issue, There are issues, Just know there is an issue! ‘Whenever there’s smoke, There must be fire, Signs of the rain, Aren’t they the clouds? If you see them dazzling, They’ve been well crafted, Whenever the elders gather, There’s much wisdom. ‘The old time people said, A very important thing, Tomorrow’s journey, Begins today. So today you should know, Is yesterday’s tomorrow, And today’s journey, We started yesterday. You can see the results. When the buffalo horn blows, Just know there is an issue, There are issues, Just know there is an issue. ‘The drum is mystic, This drum I play, And when it sounds forth you have to answer the call, So have you answered? ‘Yes…we’ve answered! Yes…we’ve answered!’
Lyrics: Swahili
Kithembe ki nguma Kithembe ki ngwina Kithembe kyakwaithwa no nginya mwitike Mbiu ya mgambo ikilia jua kuna jambo Kuna mambo Jua kuna jambo Panapa moshi Hapakosi moto Dalili ya mvua Na sini ni mawingu Ukiona vyaelea Kweli vimeundwa Panapo wazee Wingi maarifa Wahenga walinena Jambo la maana Safari ya kesho Uanzia leo Uanzia leo Basi leo jua Ni kesho ya jana Safari ya leo Tulianzia jana Ona matokeo. Mbiu ya mgambo ikilia jua kuna jambo. Kuna mambo Jua kuna jambo [2]. Kithembe ki nguma Kithembe ki ngwina Kithembe kyakwaithwa no nginya mwitike Ni mweetika Iii ni tweetika Kithembe kyakwaithwa no nginya mwitike.
Composed and arranged by Musyoki Mutua – Kenya
Percussion and vocals by Abakisimba Troupe – Kenya
Co production at ADA Creative Studios Nairobi – Kenya 2018
Produced & recorded by Max Doblhoff – Austria
Video by: Didy Kimeu – Homemade Studios – Nairobi
Official Release Date: 07/12/2018
