Mafikizolo in colourful African collaboration

21 April 2016 - 02:24 By Azizzar Mosupi

A new single and a video by South African duo Mafikizolo, DJ Maphorisa and Tanzania's Diamond Platnumz is more than a musical collaboration, it's a spectacle of African cultures.Titled Colors of Africa, the song celebrates the diversity of musicfrom different parts of the continent.The Swahili lyrics by Diamond Platnumz are mixed with Mafikizolo's signature Zulu and Sotho lingo over a catchy, Afro-beat inspired tune by DJ Maphorisa.Maphorisa from Soshanguve is a DJ and producer who recently co-produced Canadian rapper Drake's latest single, One Dance, featuring Nigeria's Wizkid.He has worked before with Mafikizolo - Nhlanhla Nciza and Theo Kgosinkwe - on their smash-hit, Khona."We felt it was important to celebrate Africa and black excellence," said Kgosinkwe.Nciza said various local fashion designers were used in the styling of the video to further celebrate home-grown talent."We made sure we used our very own African designers [for the video], which included Laduma Ngxokolo of Maxhosa by Laduma, Skorzch by Zano Sithetho and Trevor Stuurman," she said.The Rolls-Royce musician, as Platnumz is also known, said working with Mafikizolo was "very nice" and he was a staunch fan of the pair.Mafikizolo, whose last studio album was Reunited in 2013, said their next album was "coming soon" and would see them continuing to experiment with an Afro-centric sound."Over the years we've featured other musicians, but with this project we're going to feature more African producers," said Kgosinkwe.Colors of Africa will be launched tomorrow at the Taboo club in Sandton and the artists will perform live...

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