Glynis O’Hara
IF you switch on your radio and think you’re hearing Celine Dion singing Unbreak My Heart in Zulu, you won’t be far wrong. It is Unbreak My Heart in Zulu, dubbed Khululua Inhliziyo Yami, but instead of Celine belting it out, it’s Faith Kekana.
A long-time music stalwart, she’s done backing vocals for nearly every act in the country at one time or another. Now, however, she’s in front, singing the Canadian songstress’s ballad with spine- tingling delicacy, grace and control.
The single is part of a project called African Singles being put together by Cube Studios. Faith’s single is one of two due for release in early August, but already sneaking onto the airwaves due to nothing less than its sheer beauty.
The other is also a Zulu translation, this time of R Kelly’s hit I Believe I Can Fly, beautifully sung by Max Mntambo, who’s known for his work in Sarafina, on The Lion King soundtrack, with Sakhile, Airto Moreira, Sibongile Khumalo and Moses Molelekwa, among others.
“The idea is to release a full CD of at least 10 songs by the end of the year,” says Cube’s Derek Lategan.
“We’re busy on two others right now, due for release in early September – we’re looking at Babyface’s composition For You I Will, sung by Toni Braxton.
“Each single has the straight ballad version in which we keep the integrity of the song, plus two dance versions.”
They’re also looking at Babyface’s Every Time, to be sung by Max and Cindy, a young singer who’s also emerged from the Sarafina cast.
The tracks on the full-length CD will be in a variety of languages, says translator on the project Vusi Masango, who’ll also be doing the marketing.
An intriguing project, based on the huge appeal of R’n’B ballads with the added oomph of the song being sung in the vernacular, it may also be exportable to the United States, says Lategan.
“I can certainly see African-Americans getting into learning the Zulu version of a Babyface song,” he says.