The Sunday News
Nigel Siziba, Sunday Life Reporter
NEW technologies and approaches are merging the physical, digital, and biological worlds in ways that will fundamentally transform humankind.
The extent to which that transformation is positive will depend on how we navigate the risks and opportunities that arise along the way, even though technology is seen as a catalyst of eroding our culture and has prompted our ways of life being influenced by the West which prompted Red Monkey Nation musical group of to form a new music genre that will conserve African culture called Digital Maskandi.
In an interview with Sunday Life Irvin Phakathi popularly known as Scarrah said it brings together the new and the old generations.
“This genre is a fusion of lyrically cultured Southern African music and our basic culture which is derived from our roots. It brings together the new generation and their forefathers. The genre is a solution to the erosion of Ubuntu in the youth. With the adaptation of the western style now common within the youth, Red Monkey Nation is in a bid to merge the “Western style” and the African culture to suit all ages.
“The term digital emanates from the electronic technology being used to merge the Western Style and the African culture. Earlier manifestations of maskandi can be noted with the likes of Shwi Nomntekhala, Bhekumuzi Luthuli, Mgqumeni and Mtshengiseni. Maskandi was used to relay messages to guide the young and old with a touch of sound,” he said.
As a group they have been together for nine years and they have received enough airplay in the local radio stations and they are set to release their debut in the new genre (Digital Maskandi) called Isimo Sentsha.
They have managed in performed in some big stages alongside prominent artistes.
“We performed at Ingwebu festival, bigger than hip-hop, shake it stomp talent show and currently we are doing kasi to kasi Hip-Hop sessions. We have worked with artistes like POY, Brown EXN, Mc Gudo and J-Dumz,” said Scarrah.
@nigelsiziba19
