…USA-based songbird releases track composed by Mildred Dorcas Mwamba to honour Lake Mweru women and her mother’s belief in her talent
By TROY MUKUPA
NEW YORK – USA-based Zambian songbird Muriel Mwamba has released ‘Rhoda’, a song composed by her late mother, Mildred Dorcas Mwamba, as a tribute to both her mother’s faith in her and the women traders of Lake Mweru.
https://www.murielmwamba.com
The track, on Mwamba’s new 6-track EP ‘Kalindula +1’, tells the story of a fish trader from Nchelenge who travelled to sell in Mufulira and Lusaka.
In a phone interview, Mwamba said her mother used to sing the song to her while growing up and she has carried it for years.
“’Rhoda’ was composed by my mother, Mildred Dorcas Mwamba,” Mwamba said.
“She used to sing it to me when I was a child. I have had the song for a very long time. This time I thought of giving tribute to her, for her belief in my talent, and to the women of Lake Mweru.”
The 800km trade route from Nchelenge to the Copperbelt and Lusaka has for decades been travelled by women who buy kapenta and bream and resell in markets. Mwamba said the song honours their hustle.
“When my mother passed, I kept hearing her voice in that song,” she said.
“She always believed I would take our music to the world. Recording ‘Rhoda’ felt like I was keeping that promise. In the Brooklyn studio, I could feel her with me.”
Musically, Mwamba kept the arrangement close to the way her mother sang it, but added modern drums and guitars.
“I didn’t want to change much,” she said.
“This is how my mother taught it to me. We just gave it better sound so more people can hear her story. It’s very catchy. People hear it and they dance, but the message stays.”
Mwamba confirmed ‘Rhoda’ will be the first song from ‘Kalindula +1’ to get an official music video.
“I want to show Rhoda on screen,” she said.
“The lake, the markets, the buses. I want young girls to see that our mothers’ work is powerful. This is for all the Mildreds and Rhodas who built families with their hands.”
The EP ‘Kalindula +1’ is out now on all streaming platforms and is dedicated to her late parents, Mr. and Mrs S.J.M Mwamba.
For Mwamba, the release is personal.
“It’s my way of saying thank you, mum,” she said.
“For believing in me. When people sing ‘Rhoda’, they are also singing Mildred.”
PRODUCTION NOTES: Vocals by M. Mwamba. Piano/Guitar/Bass/Percussion/Vocals by S. Whelan. Congas/Drums/Percussion by Marcello Perez. Mixed and Mastered by Dan “Dan The Man”.
