Durban record company uses music to fight xenophobia

 “Signs” is the work of talented DRC national Gloire Espoir Mapenzi, now living in Durban. The song showcases his alluring voice and guitar skills, backed by the production and songwriting abilities of the in-house Black City Records (BCR) creative team. 

Gloire is a self-taught musician who started playing the guitar at the age of seven. In the course of his career, he has worked with local and international artists such as Miriam Webster (Hillsong Australia), Andrew Bairds (Mango Groove), Frederick (DRC), Mike D ( Uganda ) and Wilaine Nshonzi ( DRC). His musical influences range from Hugh Masekela and Jonathan Butler to contemporaries, John Legend and John Mayer. 

BCR spokesperson Ms Chenee Green said it was symbolic that they are launching this record with a powerful African unity theme just a few hundred metres from where people were killed in xenophobic violence just four years ago. 

“Africa is more than just a sense of place, it is also a sense of mind. Daily we are still confronted by challenges of prejudice and stereotypes, including racism, Afrophobia and sexism. Thus, this launch event for Gloire and the accompanying BCR vision serves as credible platform for embracing that larger identity of being African in our country, the greater continent and the wider world. Music has always been and always will be an important instrument to build a united African continent that stretches from Cape to Cairo and through our enterprise we can promote Pan–Africanism, cultural renewal and identity to champion the African Agenda."

The MD of BCR Yogan Naidoo added that the label is focussed on developing the talent of traditional and modern African music.

 “The City of Durban and the continent of Africa abound with supremely talented musicians. BCR aspires to harness these assets as the African music industry, both traditional and modern, has grown exponentially and can have a direct impact in scaling up the city’s creative economy and just as importantly, has the potential to create much-needed jobs, which in turn will reduce poverty. In this regard, BCR recognises music and its power as a unifying asset and in supporting the growth and development of African music, both traditional and modern, views this enterprise as a critical element of Africa’s developmental agenda and cultural reform," Naidoo said.