Umfoka Msezane – Ushayasbhamu

The word describes someone who hits the bhamu, which is South African slang for a certain kind of drum or beat. The title sounds like a nickname given to a person known for it, the way every neighbourhood has someone with a title earned at parties.

Nigerians have the same habit of naming people by what they do. We have the DJ everybody calls by a street name, the man who always handles the sound at weddings, the friend who is famous for a particular dance. These nicknames carry pride and a little teasing.

I will not pretend to describe production details I cannot confirm, but a title built around a player of rhythm suggests a record that celebrates the beat and the people who bring it. It makes you picture a crowd, a speaker, and someone at the centre who knows exactly what the room wants.

There is a quiet respect in the name too. Being known for something, even something fun, means people trust you with the mood. By the time a friend says Ushayasbhamu to point at the person on the decks, everybody already knows who they mean.

Anyone who loves live events, weddings or a night where the rhythm carries everything will see themselves in the idea. It suits the dance floor and the long evening where the beat never stops.

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