A song with heart from eSwatini
Fikile Dladla-Nxumalo, better known as Floewe, is from the Kingdom of eSwatini (Swaziland). Her talent started to gain recognition in the mid-1990s while attending Evelyn Baring High School in Nhlangano. Floewe radiates with positivity despite the pervasive challenges in her home country. She sings with hope and courage, no doubt influenced by the resilience of the people around her.
https://soundcloud.com/festival-azgo/floewe-lomatsemba
(the song has no official video, so here is the SoundCloud to listen)
Floewe mainly sings in the siSwati language, but she sprinkles in English. This song starts out slow, building a nice atmosphere. While the opening verse won’t instantly demand your attention, it definitely deserves attention. Floewe’s raw talent and emotion really starts to show when the first chorus hits. The power of the song is largely found in the message of the lyrics, but unless you understand siSwati you will miss much of the message, which brings us to the next section.
What is the song about?
According to Floewe, this song is an open letter to runaway teenagers. During the first verse she introduces us to a girl named Lomatsemba who ran away from home. ‘Lomatsemba’ is a beautiful name which basically translates ‘hope’. Most of the song is pleading for Lomatsemba to come home. In siSwati “buyela ekhaya” or “buye lekhaya” translate “come home”. She reminds Lomatsemba that her parents remember her and that they need her.
The story of a teenage runaway is an issue without borders. In eSwatini, children already have a fragile ecosystem fighting against the family unit. From the youngest to the oldest, everyone plays an important role in the household’s success and happiness. Floewe’s lyrical and vocal approach to the issue is genuine and powerful, which is well highlighted in this ‘A Capella Session’ on YouTube. This shortened version of "Lomatsemba" is raw, hopeful and refreshing, enjoy.
Siyabonga kakhulu (thank you very much),
Scott
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