THULUBUKE – Abafana Bayefana Ft. Sphiwo Miya

The title says boys are all the same, or men are alike. It is the kind of line people say after a disappointment, usually with a sigh and a shake of the head. It can be a complaint, a warning or a joke told among friends.

Nigerians know this sentence by heart. Ask a group of women after a heartbreak and somebody will say all men are the same, and half the room will nod. The men, of course, will answer that it is not true, and the argument will last through two rounds of drinks.

Having a male guest on the record makes the subject more interesting. I will not pretend to describe production details I cannot confirm, but Sphiwo Miya beside the lead name makes you curious whether the title is defended, admitted or turned into banter between friends.

The charm lies in how sweeping the claim is. Nobody really believes it, and everybody has said it. By the time a friend mutters Abafana Bayefana over a phone screen, you can guess what the boy in question did.

Anyone who has been let down in love, or has had to defend their own side, will understand the mood. It suits girls’ nights, gist sessions and the long talk that follows a disappointment.

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