Maqhinga Hadebe – Tshelani iE Ft. Maqhinga Stanley Radebe

The first word is a plural command, which means “tell” when speaking to a group. So the person in the title is asking several people to pass a message along. That immediately creates a scene. Somebody has news, or a warning, or a bit of pride, and they want it carried across the neighbourhood.

The second part, “iE”, is the mystery, and I will not pretend to know what it stands for. It could be a name, a short form or a code only the artist understands. That open question is the interesting part. Titles that keep one piece hidden make people ask around, and that is how a song spreads by word of mouth.

Think about the last time you wanted something announced. A new job, a new relationship, a cleared debt. In Nigeria we say “go and tell them” with a small smile when we have won something. It is a bold, slightly dramatic way of speaking, and it suits a title like this.

Maqhinga Stanley Radebe is the only credited guest, so the record seems like a closer collaboration. The message itself belongs to the artist, but the title makes you want to hear what exactly needs telling.

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