While many of the tracks from Namibian rappers I have found previously have taken many notes from Western Hip Hop sound and culture,”Linyenga” is deeply and distinctly African. The name of the song “Linyenga” means “move” in the Namibian dialect of the Oshiwambo language. The song makes use of traditional African beats and chants, alongside some very subtle synth sounds that give it a modern vibe. The song is very much a “dance” beat, it encourages us to get up and move, just as the title implies. The mix of modern sound editing with traditional instruments creates a sound that is unique to African Hip-Hop. The beat is energetic but without the deafening chaos of many American “dance” tracks, this song would fit just as well in the club as it would during a ritual dance. This is the exact kind of unique and distinct sound that draws people into African Hip-Hop as a genre distinct from Western hip-hop. “Linyenga” is easily my favorite song I’ve found so far in this course.
Soundcloud -https://soundcloud.com/lioness-nam-mistress