Code Mundalamo's music came to him in his dreams

     Music

The life of a resident of Gogobole village in the Kutama area, Code Mundalamo, made a swift turn-around when he responded to a calling to become a reggae musician.

Mundalamo explained that he managed to find the meaning of life in the rhythms of his lyrics and his acoustic guitar in a most profound way. He is one musician who always carries his acoustic guitar with him when he walks around the province, strumming it to the delight and amazement of those who see him and listen to his sounds.

On his first album, Zwiakalakata, he invites the listener to accompany him on a musical journey where he praises God with his rendition of The Lord’s Prayer, arranged in reggae tunes in a way that has never happened before. This very album comprises 12 tracks, which are all unique and different in sound and arrangement.

“I sing about issues and matters that refer to social life,” he said. “To me, music is life – my soul thrives on music. Music is a form or way of self-expression, the delivery of constructive messages and a package of joy and happiness.”

His highlights include being invited to headline the annual Africa Day Reggae Festival, where he shared the stage with seasoned artists in the reggae genre, including BlackJahman, Jahman Chiganja, Colbert Mukwevho and Kenny Murabi.

“It all started around 2004 when I heard full songs playing in my mind,” he said. “I realised that I had not heard those song from anywhere before. The same songs would also come in my dreams. It was like madness, but a positive one, because I soon realised that it had to do with a musical calling.”

Code Mundalamo then started writing all those songs in a notebook and realised that they also appeared on the pages as poems, which carried strong messages.

“I couldn’t sing or play any music instrument at the time,” he stated. “When I got to Vaal University to study metallurgical engineering, I teamed up with some fellows who spent their spare time indoors playing live music for fun. They had most music instruments and I picked the bass guitar, which they taught me the basics of. Soon I was playing lead guitar on my own, and further bringing to the fore all those songs that used to penetrate my mind or visit my dreams.”

In 2016, he released his debut album, Zwiakalakata, which earned him massive respect in the reggae music fraternity. Just a fortnight ago, he produced his second offering, Shango na Zwalo. It was recorded at Ballitainment Studios and was produced by Ishmael “newBreed” Rammbwa.

“It was good and enjoyable working on Shango na Swalo,” he said. “I hope that you’ll enjoy it too.”

It comprises 12 tracks, which include Zwo luga zwo ralo, Mulwanndwakhulu, Dakalo la vhana vhanu, Rudzani, Jahweh, Tshedza tsha lushaka and Vhala Vhavhili.

Mundalamo is available on Facebook and can be reached on 072 124 9271.

Entertainment - Date: 06 May 2018

Tshifhiwa Mukwevho

Tshifhiwa Given Mukwevho was born in 1984 in Madombidzha village, not far from Louis Trichardt in the Limpopo Province. After submitting articles for roughly a year for Limpopo Mirror's youth supplement, Makoya, he started writing for the main newspaper. He is a prolific writer who published his first book, titled A Traumatic Revenge in 2011. It focusses on life on the street and how to survive amidst poverty. His second book titled The Violent Gestures of Life was published in 2014.

Email: [email protected]