HIGH-FLYING arts company Inkululeko Yabatsha School of Arts (Iyasa) has released an eighth studio album.
Own Correspondent
The album titled Afrika Alive, was recorded and produced at House of Rising Sound by Joe Maseko and Toisen Marirangombe in Bulawayo. It was produced by Nkululeko Innocent Dube. It was mastered at Doing Studios in Austria by Ben Kellner.
It has 18 tracks sung in Ndebele, English and German and a bit of Czech. The album features 15 Iyasa members and together with Conqueres 7, an a cappella group from Bulawayo, who assisted with voice coaching. In an interview from his European base, Nkululeko Dube, the director of Iyasa, said the album was a culmination of their extensive work in Europe.
“It’s important to understand that this album is based on stage productions already presented in Europe. “They are from the music and dance production Afrika Alive and the theatre piece Girafika. The themes are assorted.
“The themes cut across love, children’s games and also address social issues and most importantly global warming and pollution,” Dube said. Dube revealed that upon returning from tour they would shoot three videos and also work on launching the album.
“People should look forward to the song Sjaiva Sibancane which I think our fans in Zimbabwe will identify with and the rather sorrowful, but touching track Yinindaba,” Dube said.
He added: “Iyasa has recorded over seven albums internationally and they have sold very well. The public needs to understand that some of the albums are particularly relevant to our Diaspora market, but this album surely caters for Zimbabwe too.
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“The past albums are also available online and soon Afrika Alive will be available on iTunes too. We urge the public to buy original CDs. “That is why our recording company has over the years been hesitant to produce our CDs in the country. But this year we have convinced them that the people are ready to get a taste of our creativity.”
