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Sizwe Alakine announces his debut presentation, Alakine World, a few days before the release of his latest single, ‘Mang Ka Pa Mang.’ Sizwe makes his debut exactly in time as the album is the ultimate soundtrack of Kasi summer, in an attempt to retain momentum while fans are still ruminating about the ‘Mang Ka Pa Mang’ music video, which has 86K views on YouTube alone.
The 13-track project, a sort of homecoming, serves as a narration and musical collage of events specific to the township as well as the individuals that live in these settings. The album includes the singles released earlier this year, including ‘Mang Ka Pa Mang’, ‘AmaVampire’ ft. Mr. JazziQ, Tserai J, PMD, Boibizza, 2woshort & Soultribute, and ‘After Tears’ ft. Dj Stokie, Boohle & Tycoon. The album serves as a platform that immerses these tracks in the setting of Alakine World, allowing for fresh interpretations.
The tracklist is dense with subjects of township dialogue, since each track offers a different perspective to consider. ‘Ntaka [Imali Ayikho]’ ft Imnotsteelo begins by addressing one of the township’s and country’s most pressing issues, economic inequity. ‘Ntaka [Imali Ayikho]’ is a frantic plea emphasizing the struggle to attain basic essentials. ‘Abantu’ ft. Lady Du is a radio-friendly musical sketch about a nosy neighbor who constantly meddles in other people’s business. This individual envies and wishes bad on others while paying little attention to events in their own life.
In a track, light log percussion frolics are paired with wah-wah guitar plucking. ‘Bring it Back,’ featuring King Jillz, Strictly Bk, Roii, and Sauwcy, is a melancholy balladic interpretation of an Amapiano love song. The song explores the need of making up after a lover’s dispute, as life without a companion is an intolerable reality. ‘Bring it Back’ includes a wonderful rap stanza that is reminiscent of Alakine as Reason, showcasing a different side to Amapiano. ‘Ngiyashiselwa’ ft. King Jillz & Boibizza, which is well placed in the album succession, is a representation of the burning yearning for another.
The ditty, which is sonically sophisticated, showcases features of purity by incorporating parts of Zulu culture, conveying the proclamation of love through a torrent of poetic oration. ‘Ngiyashiselwa’ personifies duality, as the pure confession of love is interwoven with the rawness of sexual arousal.
With ‘Amaginsa’ feat Deeper Phil, Kabza De Small, and DayJoy Skillz, the album returns to a darker topic. The music is an exposition of being in close proximity to gangsters and criminals. These are the folks who live around us, are our friends, and are a part of our families, according to Alakine’s lyrics. Alakine expresses the incomprehensibility of this not being shared lived experience as others live lives free of challenges and strife although these themes are prevalent un the township. Other notable mentions on Alakine World include the calm dance song ‘Ziayawa La’ ft. Zan’Ten & Raspy, as well as tunes with traditional Amapiano dance cadences, such as ‘Estoepini’ ft. Tserai J, PMD, Vision & KiD X and ‘Konko’ ft. S’tukzin & Gemini Major.
While some of the subjects covered in Alakine World are quite somber and very realistic, the brilliant approach of layering darker themes on Amapiano beats aims to alleviate the impact of harsh reality. This method, which is common in South African Struggle Music, portrays dance and joyous energy placed on the agonizing lyric. Alakine World portrays this subtle spirit of Black South Africa, as the initiative seeks joy and reasons to enjoy life in the midst of adversity. This essence is what makes the South African people beautiful and colorful; it is what makes being black, and especially South African, feel nice.