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Digital Indigenous 03: Relke Meto

by Digital Indigenous

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about

“Relke Meto” is the third part of Digital Indigenous, the anthology of digital local music. It sounds as arguably the most honest and direct collection of electronic productions to be released recently.

The music is performed by Happy Mhpande, Malawian singer, producer, editor, photographer and filmmaker, as well as a local government activist (he serves as a tradition authority by birth in one village, and by the people’s vote in the other). With a band consisting of his younger brothers and cousins: Theliso, Manuel, Steve and Gift, he composes songs inspired by the traditions of the Malawian northern region, combining them with electronic sounds from South Africa and Zimbabwe. It is not a coincidence: Happy carries the identity of the Ngoni group, which in the nineteenth century migrated from the area of today's city of Durban (South Africa), seizing and assimilating the encountered population on the way. The genealogy of the Mphande family goes back to the Mashonaland region of present-day Zimbabawe, where Happy's great-great-great-grandparents joined Ngoni.

Happy's music is a practice of memory about ancestors, but also about loved ones. The title track was produced as a background to mourn the memory of Mphande's younger brother, Relke. The entire album is dedicated to him as well. The remaining songs are ecstatic electronic hymns that celebrate both the Ngoni community and the good news (gospel). In the Mphande family, both Pentecostal Christians and the followers of local religions coexist, and the music is to be a common platform for dance and prayer for all of them.

It is worth to remind that Happy Mphande is a co-producer of the previous album 1000HZ ("Viyezgo. Vimbuza from Mzimba South" Amaliya Group), that featured recordings of the local vimbuza cult performed by doctor Amaliya Kabila, who happens to be Happy's aunt.

credits

released November 4, 2022

Happy Mphande - voice, leadership, production
Theliso Mphande - electronics
Manuel Mphande - electronics
Steve Mphande - electronics
Gift Mphande - electronics

Dang Thuy Duong - artwork

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about

Digital Indigenous Mzuzu, Malawi

Digital Indigenous is a new series by 1000HZ Records. It presents most local producers who utilize rudimentary digital tools to create thrilling mixes of electronic and traditional music - either pop or avant-garde oriented.

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