World Systems by Chris Thiba

ARTIST: Chris Thiba

ALBUM: World Systems

 The first time I saw Chris Thiba was in Pretoria at a place where most guys from Venda meet and braai, Ha-Mavhele, as the meeting spot is known to many. That Saturday I really wanted to go to Ha-Mavhele as Khakhathi (From Khakhathi & Friends) was supposed to perform, but for some reasons I couldn’t really go. As fate would have it, a family friend happened to be in Pretoria, so when he suggested lunch I quickly pointed Ha-Mavhele. When we got there I was so eager to see Khakhathi as I knew we only had limited time there, so when he showed his face on stage a few minutes later I had every reason to thank The Almighty. I only saw him perform one song from his latest album and I felt like I could stay there for the rest of the day. All along there was this guy with nicely hanging dreadlocks who was just standing there not doing much. I suspected him to be one of Khakhathi’s backing vocalists and was very eager to know who he was as I am always curious to know those people who are behind the beautiful choruses we hear in songs.  I never got that chance to know who he was as we left that very moment.

The next Saturday, being the 19th of February, Khakhathi was back at Ha-Mavhele and this time I didn’t have any reason not to be there. The guy who I was so curious to know turned out to be an artist in his own right. Chris Thiba. I didn’t notice much of Chris before he got to the stage doing his serious reggae business. The voice was smooth; the beats were laid down with the bass making sure the genre was felt. You can’t ignore a good thing when you see one, being me I stopped all that I was doing and listened to the man of the moment. The T-shirt he was wearing was clearly written his name as well as the name of the album: Chris Thiba, World systems. Its common knowledge that in South Africa, the capital of reggae is Limpopo, but I have to assure you, the guys are working extra hard to make this genre a force to be reckoned with in the industry. I couldn’t believe I had never heard of this guy. His voice was relaxed, easy on the ear and fitted way too well with the sound and sure he was enjoying every moment. The moment of the night came when he performed his song, which is now my favourite, simply titled “Borrow & lending” which talks about blacks not owning anything of what they seem to have now, being cars, houses etc. He had the crowd on his feet and everyone singing along that he had to repeat the song again to the delight of his newly recruited fans. I knew I had to get that disc that night, so I gave him what I had and got myself a copy. I am not regretting even one moment.

“World systems” is a well-produced 10-track reggae album. It contains songs that will make you want to stand up and chant as well as laid back tracks that will take your mind to another world. The one track that get stuck in your mind is the sing-along hit titled “Borrow & lending” which is sure to create waves in the music circles which was also composed by Chris himself. “Why Africa?” has slow, strong beats and laid back bass and sharp lyrics that are sure to make you sit and think of your Africa. Khakhathi also added a track on this album titled “Tshedza tsha Mudzimu” Other tracks include “World not alright”, “Bright day” and the love song “You are the one”. If this album is anything to go by, Chris Thiba surely has a bright future in this reggae business. This is a must-have compilation for those who appreciate good music. Let’s support our local music by buying original copies. Go get yourself a copy at your nearest Jive City Store. You can also drop Chris an email on: cmbengeni@yahoo.com

Ndo Livhuwa - Thanks for nothing

Pfene

Ni tshi levha ni divhe a ri lwi u fana

Na mpora nga tombo nne ndi ni zhaka nga thavha

Ivhani ni khou swarula masavha

Nga ngeno Munzheleleni misenzhele i khou wa

Ndi u to fhunzhela madana a mavuluvulu

Ni tou vha na vhutamatama murathu

Vhanwe zwithu vha tou bebiwa nazwo

Matsilu vhutsilu vha fa ngaho

Ni nga ya hune na ya

Ni nga si lale he nda lala

Ni vhudzisese, vhanwe vho huma henefha

A si inwi wa u thoma

Nga mbilu ni ri ni khou vhiga milandu ine a i divhei

Thaidzo ndi ya uri a ni divhi uri a ni divhi

Futhi a ni divhi uri nne ndi a ni divha

Ndi a zwi vhona hezwi ri tshi tangana

Hezwi ri tshi nwa ri tshi amba

Inwi ni wou ka ni tshi vhala-vhala

Na anu ri ya a divha ro di tou a dzula ntha

Ri tshi’ ro ralo ri khou fhata

Atsina ri khou khakha

Majita vha ri ni khou phapha

Ndo vuwa nga matsheloni nde ndi do vhulaya muthu

Mme a vhana vhe’ ndi khou thetshelesa Em’ too much

Na nne ndi mutuku zwo vha zwi tshi nnyita

Ndi tshi tama zwavhudi zwothe zwi zwanga

Muthu a tshi hula u a guda a divha

Zwavhudi zwi tou filimbelwa

Fhedzi inwi ni tou nga no aluwa wrong

Thanwe ndi u shaya mukomana zwi ni tswenyaho

Divhani rine vhanwe ro thuswa

Vhundenwa rothe ri naho, ri tou vhu kutela

Fhedzi ndo livhuwa u sumbedzwa mavhala

vho-Judas u ngari ni khou dalesa

Nne ndi khou ri mafhungo a nakwa u ambiwa

Arali ni khou pfa zwa mafhungo a hetshi

Ni do swogola nga u tevhela mafhungo a muzwala

Ha zwifhi u shela ndala

Fhedzi ni tshi kanda ngeno ni vhone u redzemuwa

Vhanzhi vha dzhele vha fela felo sa bete

Nne ndi tshe nnda, na u dzhena a thi tshuwi

Ndi tshi vhudziswa a thi nga fhinduleli na inwi

Ngau’ a thi divhi tshi ni tofonyaho

Ndi divha uri inwi ndi inwi ni ntofonyaho

Donngi yo fela u luga, vha ralo

Ahuna muthu o lugaho arali zwa swika hafha

Ngauri vha lino shango vha gidimela badi u hatula

Na u vhekanya vhathu vha sa vha divhi

Zwino na nne arali ni tshi ri ni ya ndivha

Simesani zwezwo zwa u mpwashela

Lufuno-Lwashu

Ngoho nne ndi khou ni funesa

A thi todi u divha uri ndi itiswa ngani

Nahone a thi nga thetshelesi vha tshi ri ndi litshe

Ngauri ndi divha zwine nda pfa

Zozo uri nwana wa seli afho o mu tshintsha muhumbulo

Nne inwi no ntanganya muhumbulo

Ndi hafha ndi nga Shufflers

Ngauri hafha ndi tou nga ndi khou penga

A thi nga levhi, fhedzi vha nndina ndi do vha fhindula

Ngauri kha hoyu, hu amba nne ngauri ndi wanga

Izwi a tshi penyelela marama ni ri ndi mini?

Ndi ndongwana dzine nda khou to penyisa hayani

A thi khou itela uri zwi nge zwa vhanwe

Ndi khou itela uri ri si sedze zwa vhanwe

And arali ra sa sedza zwa vhanwe

Na linwe duvha a ri nga ambi zwa vhanwe

Ndo vha ndi tshi ri arali nda sa amba zwa vhanwe

Khanwe na vhanwe a vha nga ambi zwa rine

Ndo vha ndi wrong ngauri muthu wanga, Vhafilista vha kha rine

Ni mufunwa wanga wa mbiluni

U bva 19-ganya nguvho mukalaha na mukegulu vho farana

Rine ri do kundiswa ngani u funana

Ra dzula rothe hu maseo na makwakwalala

Nne nangwe na tou hula na vha lukegulu

Lukanda lu tshi vho nga lwa Vho-Nyatshavhungwa

Ndi ri ndi do ni funa ungari ndi khou sedza khomba

Ni na mavhende ni tshi nga havhala vha Kapa

Ndi do ni devhela nduhu nda dovha nda ni shengela

Ngauri kha nne a huna zwine zwa ntakadza

U fhira u vhona ni tshi khou nwenwela hezwi ni tshi humbula rine

Na nne yanga i sokou gee, i tshi humbula babe i sokou gee!

Ndi tshi tshimbila ndi nga ndi sa thula vhathu

Ngauri naho vhathu vhe vhanzhi hani

Nne a thi vhuyi nda vha vhona, ni a zwi divha

Ndi vhona dzuvha langa fhedzi

Ndi humbula ndi tshi thoma u ni vhona ni fhedzi

Mbilu yanga i tshi tshina i sa fhedzi

Hafhu ndi mutukana, nga mbilu ndo vha ndo no fhedza, (ayo mazalu)

Ndi tshi ri hezwi ndo ni sedza, tshifhinga tshi tshi fhufha

Nga mbilu nda ri heyi ndi thutha

A thi ri ndo vhona thotha

Na namusi muthu wee! Ndi kha di ni vhona no tou ralo

Tshifhinga tshothe ni tshi mpfara

U nga ri ndi lwa u thoma

Ndi ngazwo na madanga a vhanwe ndi nga si vodzhe

Hafhu tshanga tshi kha di sisima

Ndi do ni funa u swikela, thi divhi hu tshi itea mini

By: Lufuno-Lwashu Munzhelele wa Makwilidza (Bethlehem)

COPE DISS SONG

During your time you were known and showed to be the real terror

Now that you’ve lost hope even your friends don’t wonder why we call you the Big error

The congress let you lead the republic ‘soldiers

Now when the battle’s no longer going your way you choose to abandon the army

What worse could happen to a coward?

Wonder what your children think about their daddy now

If anything go wrong at home, he’s gonna run away and start a family with Shilowa

Shame to you and your friends

Should have shown more venom than the hiccups you caused the country

Well, I give you credit for playing with the vulnerable citizens’ hearts

But you knew from the beginning there were only few winners in this game

Dude you must have smoked

Thinking you can fool all these people by a bottle of coke

Look at the real soldiers you’ll see and understand hope

Now the sellout boy will come and tell me to go and vote

We loved you but to make up this time you’ll need more than a rose

Comrade sometimes we swallow more than we can chew that’s why we choke

It’s the story of the prodigal son, but he realized his wrongs and went home

I wouldn’t say the same about you your hopeless pride’s not gon let you come home

Soon you’ll be standing on your own like a useless cone

Shame, you used to be more famous than the dome

It’s funny the things we do when we’re broke

But to betray my own people, nope

Let’s see if you gon cope (excuse the pun)

BLESSED

Each one of us has a soul mate

Whether or not you believe in fate

I see brothers and sisters full of tears

Who can blame them, they tried

Tell you I’ve known her since birth

We all pray we never part ‘till death

But in this world of misfortunes

You feel you’re right meanwhile you miss your calling

Every day you feel like your love is falling

Where did I go wrong?

They all cry while I sing

Everyone has a soul mate for life

And I feel blessed I already found mine

No more wasting time

I mean you make me a man

Look at me, aren’t I the man?

Can’t imagine living on this earth without you

I dedicate my life to living with and loving you

Lord I’ve made my own choices before

Now you made one for me and I don’t regret

So many tears, so many heartbreaks

I’m so happy where I am

Make me right where I am wrong

I won’t complain because I know

When everybody around me is trying

I’ll be singing our love song, saying

Everyone has a soul mate for life

And I feel blessed I already found mine

No more wasting time

I want to be here

I’m so happy here

I wanna be here

I feel I’m home here

I feel safe here

Have a baby by me baby, though I’m not a millionaire

I’ll save the little we have and show you that I really care

Wakin up in the morning  I’ll always be there