SPIRITUAL JOURNEY: The African-American has relocated to South Africa forge closer ties with both his passion Amapiano genre and ancestral roots…

By Priscilla Malinga

It is enamouring how South Africans are making great strides in the international music scene, with Kamo Mphela collaborating on a song with T.I and Chris Brown by sampling a song by a South African female after he saw her Tik Tok video.

Hence, it comes as no surprise that Ronnie Dunn aka ”Big Sbuda”, an American vocalist decided to come to South Africa to pursue his love of Amapiano at a place he calls “Motherland.”

Big Sbuda, as he would like to be called, was born in Illinois in the United States with three sisters, and served in the military before venturing into music as he said it flows in his veins. His love for music was passed from his father Ronnie Strong, a talented musician who played a bass guitar for various blues bands and artists worldwide, and his grandfather Reverend James Fuller of The Silver Wings Quartet, operating out of St Louis, Missouri, when he was just a little boy.

It was inevitable for him to choose South Africa as he viewed this country as a home with such a vibe.   He decided to leave all his children back home to connect with his ancestors and create a legacy and a future for them while pursuing his dream of becoming the first African-American artist to have transitioned from a military veteran background to becoming an Amapiano artist.

“I was captivated by piano beats when I heard Young Stunna who is my favorite artist,” says Big Sbuda. The rhythm of the drums and the 808’s event, although he didn’t understand the lyrics he thought it was still a vibe. His favourite Amapiano song is Sithi Shwi ft Big Zulu or Sthini istory ft Visca.

He was named Sbusisio by a local lady friend “Busi” when he visited this country for the first time two years ago. “I believe that Busi is a female version of Sbusiso,” he says. He then decided to call himself BIG Sbuda as he was told Sbuda is slang for Sbusiso.

Deep Amapiano is the genre that Big Sbuda believes he came out with on his new hit single Motherland, in which he collaborated with his director, Lemogang Tsip. They crafted the evocative song and music video to, not only complement his deep voice but also showcase Lemogang’s exceptional directorial skills, delving into the heart of his roots and the connection between South Africa and African-Americans.

“This unexpected musical journey is a testament to following God with blind faith,” he says.

The plan is to get the crowd to embark on a sonic odyssey with him as he traverses the rhythmic landscapes of ‘Piano Deep,’ weaving tales that echo the spirit of both South Africa and African-Americans.

“Together, let’s embrace the harmonies that bridge continents and celebrate the heartbeat of the Motherland,” he says.

“My journey as a military veteran led me to South Africa, a path not initially aligned with music but intricately woven by a higher plan,” he says.

‘Piano Deep’—a unique blend of Amapiano, deep house, R&B, and Afro tech – is a musical fusion that aims to captivate both the younger and older generation, creating a vibe at a club or chill on a Sunday during a braai.

Motherland is a song about Ubuntu filling the void that is nestled deep in most people that are away from Africa, particularly African Americans.

“We all have that connection with the Motherland, longing to be here and chase our roots,” says Big Sbuda. “It is us telling our stories to each other without the lies and misinformation, sibling to sibling,” he adds. Seeing how much people from both countries actually had in common, and filling those voids they both have missing their people abroad and understanding that Africans want them to come  home as much as they want to be home.

Hence the song title Motherland, which he says is a God given song.

When he grew up he wanted to be an athlete or a singer but, after injuries sustained in combat and many surgeries, he knew the dream of being an athlete was over. He also lost hope in being a singer until he visited South Africa, which he now calls “a spiritual motherland where possibilities are endless”.

Motherland will be released on digital platforms on November 27 2023.

ELUSIVE TRUTH IN HAYSTACK OF LIES AND FAMILY SECRETS

Pricey: The maze of twists and turns elevate this book to who-done-it mystery…

By Amanda Ngudle

The book asks: What if everything you believed was a lie? It was in this spirit that I went into the book, primed by this evocative question and eager to see how it evolves from that point.

I must say, I was defeated before I even began reading, thinking what’s the point if, at the end of the day, everything is a lie? I looked for my culprits and everyone was a suspect until somewhere halfway through the book. The story goes that Riley MacPherson who grew up believing she was the biological child of her parents, turns out to have been adopted. Also, the sister she grew up believing had committed suicide from the stress of genius talent, is not her sister at all.

This truth is unearthed as she tries to clean her parental home, following the death of her ‘father’. The classified information that she uncovers about her family turns her life upside down as she puts everything on hold and chases after the truth.

It turns out that people who believed they knew the story of this teenage suicide don’t know a thing. What uncovers the truth is a cold conversation with her father’s most unlikely estate beneficiary. (it turns out he is not even her father) And the man tells her the so-called sister is alive. From her relentless search, she yearns and learns the truth.

Three things bothered me about this book. Important characters are left hanging. Urgent phone calls that were made, do not get returned.  Unlikely incidents are pursued more than they should. For instance, what are the odds that a landlady cannot hear you once playing a violin, just because your windows are closed? The house that had been a hip of things and heirlooms, does not get cleaned up and get sold as has been the mission since the beginning of the book.

But at least it is a book with logic most of the time and a happy ending. But I would not pay the designated price for it.

• The Silent Sister-By Diane Chamberlaine-MacMillan (R590)