She told us she'd like to try out ugali and nyama choma with kachumbari while in Kenya. Are you hungry already? You should also be hungry for her music which has seen her win awards in the Southern African region.
Berita is a Zimbabwean born South African based singer whose love for African elements in music has seen her travel the world and work with the likes of Yvonne Chakachaka and the late Bra Hugh Masekela. Her East African tour for her new self-titled album 'Berita' has been a success so far which will see her have one grand finale in Kigali.
Kenya Buzz had a conversation with her about her music, African heritage, her love for bananas and the opportunities she sees in the future.
KenyaBuzz: What is Afro soul music to you?  
Berita: It's very interesting genre because it has so many different elements; soul elements, jazz, RnB, urban contemporary sometimes it even has a gospel ring to it but with an Afro touch and with soul. It's a genre that I got to know and I think was introduced to the world back in the 60's by the legendary Miriam Makeba.
KenyaBuzz: Who/what inspired you to pursue music?
Berita: I grew up listening to a lot of music and most of it was South African and African music. It's the likes of Papa Wemba, Brenda Fassie, Mafikizolo and whole lot of influences but they're all deeply rooted in African sounds. When I was 16 I moved with my parents to New Zealand seeking greener pastures just like a lot African parents have done in the past 10 or 20 years. Moving there got me to listen to a lot of pop music. I could tell that the melodies were accessible but I wondered what it would be like if it had the Afro elements. What made me really want to sing is I started searching for my identity and really trying to find out my culture and heritage. That is a seek that I'm always on. In doing so, I realized that I needed to express myself so I started writing and playing the guitar and the rest is history.
KenyaBuzz: What are your plans for your East African tour?
Berita: This is my second time in East Africa. I was here last year for a music festival in Kampala, Uganda. I started my tour in Uganda again last week and I was there for a week. I'm in Kenya now for live performances and looking to collaborate with artists. After this I'll be in Kigali for another week. I have a really exciting show for my finale on 26th May at the Kigali Cultural Village.
KenyaBuzz; Tell us about your self-titled album Berita:
Berita: I have 3 albums and this is my latest. I released it last year and it's about the person that I've become. I started when I was 20 years old, very naïve by then and I still am, that will never go away (Laughs). As a woman you grow and learn, you talk to your friends, girls and you find yourself forming opinions and share what's going on in each other's lives. The album is a bit like that, it's a conversation about what I've gone through as a woman; my personal experiences with love and heartbreak and my passion for life and for music and how nothing can take that away from me.
KenyaBuzz: Your favourite song in the album is…
Berita: You can't choose (Laughs), it's hard. But there's a song called 'Surprises.' I like that one because it's a simple song about celebrating life.
KenyaBuzz: What is your Swahili song 'Milele' about?
Berita: It's a love song about being together forever. It's written by an amazing friend of mine, singer-songwriter Tresor Mziki, who is a Congolese based in South Africa. I think it's important to sing in different native languages as an African child. I look up to Miriam Makeba who travelled the whole continent doing that and it's something that I hope and wish to do.
KenyaBuzz: What has been the biggest highlight of your career so far?
Berita: I have had an exciting music career and I have been very fortunate. For me it has to be working with the late Bra Hugh Masekela and Oliver Mtukudzi. That was a big highlight. It just changed the trajectory of my career because I was this young girl and then all of a sudden it's like, "what's so special about her?" I learnt a lot about how to present myself as an artist, how to communicate my ideas and Oliver Mtukudzi told me to talk about what's happening in my community. One of the highlights that I keep on enjoying is being mentored by Yvonne Chakachaka. That's something that I truly enjoy and I'm learning a lot.
KenyaBuzz: Have you had your low moments as an artist?   
Berita: Oh my God. So many (Laughs). Now I don't have low moments anymore because I've come to accept that music is a learning curve. Sometimes you go to the studio and try to achieve something and that is frustrating at that moment. Sometimes it's the business of music because now the world is looking to Africa and we're an export right now. It's challenging on how to place yourself, how to build your business as a young creative woman. Challenges are there but I keep working.
KenyaBuzz: Complete the sentence: Every young emerging artist needs to know that_______
Berita: (Laughs) …it's going to take time and a lot of effort. Yes.
KenyaBuzz: What can't you say no to?
Berita: Hmmm. I love bananas. I can eat 10 bananas in one go (Laughs).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYpuVvywAyE

About The Author

Author
Omani Joy

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