Mr Thela – Anthem Ft. Shella Weh Mngani & Mel Bacela

An anthem is bigger than an ordinary song. It is what a crowd sings together, what a team plays before kickoff and what a country stands up for. Nigerians know the power of that word, from the national anthem we recited in school assembly to the street records that become the unofficial soundtrack of a whole December. Calling a record this is a bold promise that people will gather around it.

The guest list gives it a human touch. Shella Weh Mngani and Mel Bacela share the credits, and Mel Bacela appears on another song from the album too. Having two guests on a record with this title makes sense, since a group chant needs more than one voice. I will not describe the beat or the vocals, because I cannot vouch for what I have not established.

It belongs to the moment the whole room agrees on something, hands up and phones out.

Download MP3