Ugandan International hip hop artiste GNL Zamba and gifted American worldbeat artist Miriam Tamar of the Nsimbi Music duo have released the second music video “Dunia Ni Matembezi” off their global charting debut album, “Nsimbi”.
“Dunia Ni Matembezi” is a Swahili proverb that means “the world is walking” and the song talks about the rite of passage of leaving home.
In order to venture into the unknown, one must move beyond borders and explore the world around them with openness and curiosity.
In the proverb, ancestors travel far and wide to return with stories to tell, to help expand our understanding and impart wisdom.
“The refrain of the song, “gotta go, gotta go, to come home” sings to the idea that we only truly come to know ourselves through difference and departure. Travel is a cyclical experience, and we are enriched and in turn enrich those around us upon our return,” GNL told this website while speaking about the song.
The music video journeys through the wondrous eyes of a schoolboy, who embarks on a caravan (road-trip) through the desert after reading his favorite afro-future comic book “Dunia”.
He’s joined by a merry band of pranksters and vagabonds, who teach him about discovering the world through the 5 senses, a universal language that we all share.
As the boy comes into contact with exotic landscapes, and develops his perception of sight and sound, he finds connection and community with those around him.
In this retro-future video, time is at a standstill, forever present, and travel is a state of mind. Experience speaks louder than schoolbooks, so go out there and explore!
Here’s “Dunia Ni Matembezi” by Nsimbi:
ABOUT NSIMBI:
Nsimbi album is a world fusion album written and performed by the duo made up of GNL Zamba and gifted American worldbeat artist Miriam Tamar.
The album debuted on the USA iTunes World Music Chart at #5, the Canada iTunes World Music Chart at #3, and the Uganda iTunes Chart at #3. Nsimbi has so far been featured in prominent international press outlets such as PopMatters, Vents Magazine, Financial Times and KCRW radio Los Angeles and continues to gain momentum on USA media and radio rotation.
Nsimbi is now available worldwide on all online platforms (iTunes Store, Apple Music, Tidal, Spotify, Amazon) and also available for purchase through the SulaPay app using Mobile Money in Uganda.
Building on the acoustic sounds and indigenous instruments of Africa, Nsimbi blends contemporary elements of hip-hop and spoken word with English/Western songwriting techniques and vocals to merge the traditional with the modern.
A global sound anchored in the rich messages of ancient East African proverbs and folklore emerges with their debut self-titled album, scheduled for release in summer 2018. The collection bridges cultures with lyrics in English, Swahili, Luganda and Lingala.
The duo met six years ago in Uganda, and have collaborated in Africa and in the United States. Nsimbi is their first album together and includes contributions by East African musicians they long admired, Kinobe and Jaja Bashengezi.
Bound by the kindred world travelers who embrace the beauty of dialogue and human connection through music, each artist’s background shapes the sound of the album.
GNL Zamba is among East Africa’s most influential hip-hop artists, credited with bringing rap to the region’s mainstream culture by using Uganda’s indigenous language in a style known as Lugaflow. Nominated for over 30 African music awards, winning 12, GNL has performed throughout the world, including the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture, We Love Africa Music Festival in Denmark, Selam Africa Music Festival in Ethiopia, and Sauti Za Busara Festival in Zanzibar.
Fusion vocalist and songwriter Miriam Tamar creates empowering soundscapes that journey through the vibrant rhythms of world culture. Her mix of genres reflects global travels and the communities she’s lived within, including five years spent in Uganda developing peace education curriculum to rebuild the lives of post-conflict children.
Profoundly transformed and determined to remind people of the beauty beyond borders, Miriam’s most recent Firedance EP debuted in the Top 5 of the iTunes World Music Chart and has been featured on Huffington Post as the video for her single, “Who We,” has over 500,000 views.
As passionate global citizens, Nsimbi is developing an educational curriculum tied to the themes of cross-cultural exchange, appreciation, and dialogue explored in their album. Workshops will be part of their album world tour.
