After a year's sabbatical and no new song on the horizon, Stimela has finally dropped a reflective, message-laden album.
Titled A Lifetime, the album evaluates the past 15 years and what democracy has brought to us as a people. The group says little has changed, hence the album's name.
"We address the seven key pillars of humanity including culture, education, religion, politics, the environment, gender and socialisation.
"The album assesses the consistent question people ask - what has democracy brought us? We are trying to clarify that democracy is everybody's responsibility.
"You have the choice of following a subject matter you are conversant with because you will be better placed to tackle it and bring value to your people," says guitarist and group leader Ray Phiri, getting deep into the philosophy of reflection he has become known for.
He says if somebody talks about social development, they must ask themselves whether they have been socially developed enough to contribute fully.
"They should wonder if our environment is safe for us by being free of anything that would affect our health and well being.
"Let us use our free time to enrich our minds," Phiri pleads, begging that we should not be fire-lighters without knowing how the fire started and how to manage it.
Right time
Phiri says the album is the result of pressure from all the people who love them.
"We could not just do it but had to wait for the right moment."
The four original members, Jabu Shibumbe, Mnca Mtshali, Lloyd Lelosa and Phiri, are still on board. "We have since recruited young blood into the band. In the 80s, we took in the late Charlie Ndlovu, Thapelo Khomo, Mandla Masuku, the late Teaspoon Ndelu, Ntokozo Zungu, the late Sello Mphatsoane and the Nana Coyote Motijoana. We have now recruited young blood in Bafana Khuzwayo and Portia Sibiya whom we are empowering while they in turn bring vibrancy.
Before they started working on A Lifetime, they engaged the services of a psychologist to cleanse the cobwebs from their brains so they could start on a clean slate.
The songs are as captivating as much as they are reflective. It's the smooth tunes, the electrifying melodies, always against the backdrop of poetic social commentary.
Granted they are 30-years-old but they still raise issues, kick up and still remain the contemporary, fresh sound that has made them the kings of Afropop in the sub-Saharan Africa.
"We intend to expand our frontiers and destroy boundaries that keep people from collaborating. How do musos grow if they don't interact? How do we teach the kids tricks of longevity and in turn accept vibrancy going back to interact with people by taking music to the townships? This will empower others in the spoken word and we plan to go everywhere to share our memories with our fans across the age spectrum."
To date Stimela have a catalogue of 15 albums brimming with classics whose message remains timeless and geared to last generations of Lifetimes.
Stimela's album captivating and timeless
After a year's sabbatical and no new song on the horizon, Stimela has finally dropped a reflective, message-laden album.
Titled A Lifetime, the album evaluates the past 15 years and what democracy has brought to us as a people. The group says little has changed, hence the album's name.
"We address the seven key pillars of humanity including culture, education, religion, politics, the environment, gender and socialisation.
"The album assesses the consistent question people ask - what has democracy brought us? We are trying to clarify that democracy is everybody's responsibility.
"You have the choice of following a subject matter you are conversant with because you will be better placed to tackle it and bring value to your people," says guitarist and group leader Ray Phiri, getting deep into the philosophy of reflection he has become known for.
He says if somebody talks about social development, they must ask themselves whether they have been socially developed enough to contribute fully.
"They should wonder if our environment is safe for us by being free of anything that would affect our health and well being.
"Let us use our free time to enrich our minds," Phiri pleads, begging that we should not be fire-lighters without knowing how the fire started and how to manage it.
Right time
Phiri says the album is the result of pressure from all the people who love them.
"We could not just do it but had to wait for the right moment."
The four original members, Jabu Shibumbe, Mnca Mtshali, Lloyd Lelosa and Phiri, are still on board. "We have since recruited young blood into the band. In the 80s, we took in the late Charlie Ndlovu, Thapelo Khomo, Mandla Masuku, the late Teaspoon Ndelu, Ntokozo Zungu, the late Sello Mphatsoane and the Nana Coyote Motijoana. We have now recruited young blood in Bafana Khuzwayo and Portia Sibiya whom we are empowering while they in turn bring vibrancy.
Before they started working on A Lifetime, they engaged the services of a psychologist to cleanse the cobwebs from their brains so they could start on a clean slate.
The songs are as captivating as much as they are reflective. It's the smooth tunes, the electrifying melodies, always against the backdrop of poetic social commentary.
Granted they are 30-years-old but they still raise issues, kick up and still remain the contemporary, fresh sound that has made them the kings of Afropop in the sub-Saharan Africa.
"We intend to expand our frontiers and destroy boundaries that keep people from collaborating. How do musos grow if they don't interact? How do we teach the kids tricks of longevity and in turn accept vibrancy going back to interact with people by taking music to the townships? This will empower others in the spoken word and we plan to go everywhere to share our memories with our fans across the age spectrum."
To date Stimela have a catalogue of 15 albums brimming with classics whose message remains timeless and geared to last generations of Lifetimes.
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