Barely a month after its release, Bryan’s new song Mother Zambia has already sparked controversy and online debate for its political message. The song, which talks about the tears of Zambian people because of failed political promises, has gotten people talking, some echoing its message and others saying it’s just a publicity stunt to get attention.
The singer, who is well known for his hit songs Nganalikombweke and Volcano, maintains that he is sincere with the message in the song and it’s not just a marketing ploy. “You know, I have been a soft guy and mostly I sing love songs, but with the way things are going I can’t be a good artist if I don’t speak on behalf of people because things are not okay. I am not the first person to say that Zambians are disappointed with the government and I won’t be the last, I just want to use my influence as a singer and hope that the message gets across somehow.” He says.
The song is straight forward and unapologetic and Bryan says he is not afraid of reprisal. “I have been getting calls from people all over, some in support of the song and some against it. Even on facebook I have received a lot of messages about the song. You see, even on the song I say ‘dadi nangu ndeimba ifi tekuti ni rebellion ninsala ala yakalipa fye,elyo mwa laile 90 days ati tukaya ku chalo cha mukaka no buchi mu canaan ala Mose wayakwi’ (Dad I am not rebelling by singing this I am just hungry, you said things would change in 90 days and you would take us to the land of milk and honey and now we are in Canaan but Moses where are you?) the lyrics loosely translate.
The song, produced by Jerry D at Cabin studios, ends with Bryan saying, ‘You know I was once told that hope is the last thing a human being should lose. As long as we are here we will keep hoping for the best, this is not the best. We will meet in 2016.’
By Hope Mkunte