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Bongani Ndlovu Showbiz Correspondent
AFRO-SOUL songstress Berita Khumalo has teamed up with tribal house duo Black Motion to remix her track Mwana Wamai that features music greats Oliver Mtukudzi and Hugh Masekela.

The original Mwana Wamai – a track off her latest Songs of Empowerment album – has a slow tempo jazzy feel to it with distinct elements of Tuku’s guitar and voice and Bra Hugh’s flugelhorn fused with Berita’s acoustic guitar and sultry voice.

To fuse it up, Black Motion upped the song’s tempo turning it into a house track by adding a tribal house beat with a base guitar and Congo drums.

Bulawayo-born Khumalo, who is now based in South Africa where she is signed under top music stable, Kalawa Jazmee records, said the remix, released last Friday, was remixed to cater for the youthful market.

“Youths like up-tempo danceable songs and that’s why we decided to remix this track which is loved by mature crowds because of its sound. It’s now danceable, maintaining its authenticity and quality so that it can stand the test of time,” said Khumalo.

The remix comes at a time when Berita is fresh from releasing a music video of the original Mwana Wamai on video sharing site – YouTube.

“The reception to the song has been amazing with radio stations in South Africa playing it constantly.”

As a way to promote the remix, Berita has opened up her SoundCloud account to enable fans to download it for free.

“To listen to the remix as well as the rest of my music, people can download for free on my Soundcloud account. This is only valid for this week,” said Khumalo.

On working with Black Motion, one of South Africa’s leading house groups, Berita said this was not their first time to collaborate as she featured on their gold selling album Fortune Teller.

“I’m no stranger to Black Motion as I featured on a song titled Troopa where I provided vocals. When they listened to the original of Mwana Wamai at their studios, they liked it and said they wanted to remix it. I was delighted as they were the best people to remix that song,” said Berita.

Black Motion will be in Bulawayo next week Saturday for a show at Hartsfield Rugby grounds.