AWA KHIWE announces album with empowering single ‘Zizobuya’
Hailing from Makokoba, the oldest township of Bulawayo, Awa Khiwe is a passionate advocate for women’s empowerment. Known for tackling gender-based violence and poverty, she inspires change and amplifies marginalized voices with her commanding presence and Ndebele wordplay.
Fans have dubbed her “Zimbabwe’s Rap Queen,” captivated by her traditional Ndebele attire and powerful storytelling. Awa Khiwe has established herself as a significant figure in Zimbabwe’s hip-hop scene, attracting collaboration requests from top Zim-Dancehall artists while remaining genuine and grounded. As a cultural ambassador and influential voice for Zimbabwean youth, she blends traditional elements with modern rap to address social issues and build a loyal fan base.
Awa Khiwe’s music journey took an international turn in 2016 at the Urban Africa Festival in Cologne. There, she forged strong connections with German hip-hop producer and DJ Ghanaian Stallion and linked up with Outhere Records. This paved the way for numerous collaborations with prominent artists like the hip-hop production duo KitschKrieg, Durban’s renowned DJ Tira, and German dancehall pioneer Peter Fox, who recently featured her on a remix of his Amapiano club anthem “Zukunft Pink.”
“Zizobuya” is the first single of her upcoming album, a powerful statement for women’s rights and against domestic violence. It challenges the misuse of the Lobola tradition in Southern Africa, telling the story of a woman reclaiming her independence from an abusive marriage.
It features a collaboration with Zimbabwe’s renowned Mokoomba, providing soulful backing vocals and guitar, and the dynamic horns of Ghana’s Kwashibu Area Band. The album “African Women Arise” scheduled for release on 8.11.2024 and is produced by Ghanaian Stallion, a Ghanaian-German music producer and DJ celebrated for his work with global artists like Black Sherif, Burna Boy, Megaloh, and Peter Fox and many more.
“Zizobuya is Ndebele, it means ‘we will bring them back’. It refers to cattle, connected to the southern African marriage tradition called Lobola, where the bride’s family is paid with money or gifts in gratitude. While it’s a beautiful custom, some misuse it to oppress women, claiming, ‘I paid for you with my cattle, so you must obey me.’ This song is resistance, declaring that if these payments lead to abuse, we will return them.”
