Mbekezeli 1010 – Wabulala Ubaba

Read at face value, that is a grim statement, but songs do not always mean things at face value. Titles in this register can describe a real loss, a family argument that went too far or a painful memory that someone is finally ready to speak about. It can also point at blame, at the person who carries a burden others would rather not name. Whichever direction it goes, the subject is serious and deserves a listener who is willing to pay attention.

The father figure is also one of the strongest images in African family life. He is the provider, the head of the house and the person whose absence is felt in everything. Any record that places him at the centre immediately touches something almost every listener has an opinion about.

The song sits on the Lawufaka Ilunda album, and a title this blunt gives the project a darker, more personal corner that makes the tracklist feel honest and not just polished.

This is not background music for a casual hangout. It is for the quiet hour when you want a song to treat a difficult subject with respect, and a title like this tells you it intends to do exactly that.

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