Young Generations Band Monday came out of their hibernation to announce that they will be releasing their sixth album titled Africa Rise.
Having made a name with the hit ‘Afiti Opemphera’, the group has failed to keep up the momentum despite producing other albums.
But yesterday one of the members Jangiss Khan, said the industry has frustrated them at times but they were still around.
“Some people think the group got disbanded but we are intact and still performing. We are coming out with a new album Africa Rise, four songs are ready which have been done by us in Malawi, then we have some other songs which have been done by other members in South Africa,” Jangiss said.
He said the four tracks have been recorded at Greener Arts Records in Blantyre by Suji Silk and Hope Lufani and they are ‘Bwera Kuno’, ‘Muwaleke’, ‘Ndilira Ambewe’, which is a tribute to the late Saleta Phiri and ‘No Woman No Cry’, a remake of Bob Marley’s song.
“We have songs done by Salim Nathoo, and then Tarique and Haroon Khan, who are in Cape Town have also done their songs, so, soon we will launch the album once the situation normalizes as we have Covid –19 pandemic,” Jangiss said.
The band has roped in a female member – Zion Khan, who is Jangiss’ daughter.
Zion said she was happy to be part of the group and contribute to its growth.
“I am happy that I am the first female vocalist in Young Generations. The band has been all male all along and having me adds new taste. Again, being young it means expanding the group to appeal to the younger generation as well,” Zion said.
she added:
“If you look at the reggae that my father and other members have been doing in the previous albums, its roots reggae but now things have changed where younger people would want a mixture and that is why I am there now.”
She has played backing vocals in the four songs from the new album.
Another member Chinsinsi Saka, said Young Generation will continue.
“Young Generations will be there. We are happy to have members such as Zion, who is a new generation and there are also others coming. For instance, we have Elijah Khan, who is nine years but is already into music,” Saka said.
He said the market was tough at the moment with piracy.
Some of the albums they have released are Chikondi Chanu, Chenjezo, Muzalira and Sweet Love.
Meanwhile, Jangiss has said they decided to come up with tributes to Bob Marley and Saleta Phiri as one way of respecting them.
“We have enjoyed their music and we thought we should work on their songs. Again Bob Marley died on May 11 which is today (Monday) so, it’s part of celebrating his life. Of course we have done the song differently,” Jangiss said.
Bob Marley a Jamaican musician is considered one of the pioneers of reggae. He was born on February 6 1945 and died on May 11 1981.
