Umfoka Msezane – Bafana Ft. Limit & Londeka Shangase

The word means boys, and it covers everything from small children playing in the yard to grown men being teased by older relatives. In South Africa it also carries a football flavour, since the national team is known by that word. So a short title can sound like affection, banter or pride, depending on who says it.

Nigerians will understand the range. We say “the boys” about friends at the joint, about a football team, about a group of cousins who always show up together. It is a word that carries loyalty and a little bit of mischief at once.

Having Londeka Shangase beside Limit also means the title is not only a male conversation. I will not pretend to describe production details I cannot confirm, but a female guest on a record about boys makes you curious whether she is praising, scolding or simply watching them from the side, the way many of us have done at weddings.

That is the interesting contrast in the lineup. By the time a friend tells you Bafana is on repeat at their place, the real question may be which side of the conversation they are on.

Anyone who has grown up around brothers, cousins or a loud group of friends will see themselves in the idea. It suits the weekend, the football evening and any crowd that likes to tease itself.

Download MP3