Thuthukani Cele works with Ralph Ching’amba in new album
South African reggae artist, Thuthukani Cele, who used to work with fallen reggae maestro Lucky Dube, is out with a new album titled Eyes for My Babe.
The veteran reggae artist, known for the hit ‘Usizi,’ has, among other artists, worked with the country’s producer Ralph Ching’amba in the album.
Ching’amba, who is based in South Africa— where he has established his Ralph Records Studio— is the one who mixed all the songs, recorded at Passage Studios.
Cele, who is set to perform in the country in April alongside Sister Phumi Maduna, courtesy of Entertainers Promotions, said he is happy to have worked with Ching’amba.
Ching’amba has worked with several artists, in the process producing albums with Malawian artists and groups such as Anthony Mr Cool Makondetsa and The Black Missionaries.
“This is an album which has taken me time. It is a beautiful work of art that some might call sweet soul healing reggae music and it speaks to the heart and soul,” Cele said.
He said he was happy to work with Entertainers Promotions and that he is looking forward to the best when he comes to perform in Malawi.
The new album has also seen Cele stitching a Chichewa song whose title is, in English, ‘Rainbow.’
In the song, featuring a female artist, the artist talks about the end of a storm, calling on children to “come out and pray”.
Cele sings in Chichewa saying… ndathokoza Mulungu namondwe wapita, zikomo kwambiri pothetsa namondwe and he seems to be referring to the floods that hit countries like Malawi.
Listening to most of the songs in the album, it is clear that the dreadlocked artist has not run away from Lucky Dube’s style.
Despite being silent for some time, Cele has shown that he has fuel in his tank by recording this album which he said he wants to promote by touring African countries starting with Malawi.
Other tracks in the 14-track album include ‘Freedom Time’, ‘Room and Talk’, ‘Nyaope’, ‘Action’, ‘Breast Cancer’ and ‘Oh My Angel’.
Fondly known to his fans as Thuthu, Cele was the longest-serving member of the Lucky Dube Band which he joined in 1983 as a keyboard player.
He has also worked with other artists before becoming a front man for The Slaves Band.
Cele, alongside Sista Phumi Maduna will perform at Civo Stadium in Lilongwe on April 29 in a show dubbed ‘Reggae by Foot’.
Tonderai Banda of Entertainers Promotions has since hailed Cele for the new album, saying it has come at the right time and that the new songs will be like a present to people.
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