1001 Songs Challenge #771: Inkanyezi Nezazi (1992)

On 11 February 2019 I set myself the challenging of reading 1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die by Robert Dimery (ed.) and following the book’s advice to the letter. I’ve previously read 1001 Films… and started 1001 Albums… but felt 1001 Songs… would be a sensible place to start for what I have in mind here.

My challenge is to read about one song per day and listen to it (YouTube and Spotify, I need you tonight!) before sharing my own thoughts. Some songs I will love, others I’ll hate, and I’m sure there will be those that leave me perplexed but listen to them I shall.

I’ll also try, and most likely fail, to pinpoint the best song from the 1001 on offer but I’m nothing if not foolhardy. Instead of one song, I’m predicting I’ll have about 100 favourites by the end and may have to resort to a Top 10 so far to maintain any semblance of sanity.

So long as I post everyday (including Christmas) then this challenge should come to an end on Wednesday 8 November 2021. Staying with the Barney Stinson theme I am hoping that the whole experience will prove to be…

 

Ladysmith Black Mambazo – Inkanyezi Nezazi (1992)

 

 

We leave the UK behind today, dear reader, and make the very long journey south across Europe and deep into Africa. We don’t stop until we reach South Africa and find ourselves in Ladysmith which itself can be found in the district of KwaZulu-Natal. Formed in 1960, Ladysmith Black Mambazo are one of the most famous singing exports from the African continent, specialising in both mbube and isicathamiya, both types of singing that originated with the Zulus. We pick up the group’s journey in 1992 and 1001 Songs are focusing on a song by the name of Inkanyezi Nezazi.

Inkanyezi Nezazi translates as “Star and the Wiseman” and sees the group singing of the tale of the birth of Jesus. We have the wise men following the star in the night sky, coming upon the baby Jesus and how he would rise to prominence as king of kings, his great works and deeds ultimately being captured and chronicled in the holy text known as the Bible. The song is a celebration of Jesus in all his glory and of his gift to the world. One might say this would slot nicely onto the Christmas compilations you spend all of December (now November too!) listening to.

I was not familiar with Ladysmith Black Mambazo but have come across their music before. The group rose to prominence when they supported Paul Simon on his critically acclaimed 1986 album, Graceland. If that isn’t enough the group can be heard during the opening credits to classic 1988 comedy, Coming to America, where they sing a rendition of Mbube. Inkanyezi Nezazi is not about the music, it is all about the vocals and what powerful vocals they are. An array of sumptuous voices, blending into one another, rather than competing. It’s the sort of song one can sit back and relax to.

 

Favourite songs so far:

The Animals – House of the Rising Sun (1964)

Simon & Garfunkel – The Sounds of Silence (1965)

The Beatles – A Day in the Life (1967)

The Doors – The End (1967)

Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here (1975)

Meat Loaf – Bat Out of Hell (1977)

Ultravox – Vienna (1980)

The Smiths – How Soon Is Now? (1984)

Tracy Chapman – Fast Car (1988)

U2 – One (1991)