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Megastar Beyoncé delivered on her promise to find the best talent in Africa on the Lion King-inspired album
Popular South African artists Busiswa, Moonchild, DJ Lag and Anatii flew the country’s flag high this week as they featured on US superstar Beyoncé’s new 14-track album.
The Lion King: The Gift, which was inspired by the film, was officially released on Friday.
Durban-born DJ Lag, whose real name is Lwazi Asanda Gwala, co-produced the track My Power on the record.
Speaking to City Press from Spain on Friday night, the 23-year-old said it had always been his dream to work with the global superstar.
In December last year, Beyoncé and her husband Jay-Z brought down the house when they performed DJ Lag’s smash-hit Trip to New York at the Global Citizen Festival, held at FNB Stadium in Soweto.
“After their splendid performance, it was a few days later when I received a call from Beyoncé’s people saying she wanted to do a collaboration with me,” he said.
“I didn’t think twice as this was a lifetime opportunity. I then sent my two different beats to the Beyoncé camp and they were excited.”
Last month, the gqom producer flew to Los Angeles in the US to put the final touches on his track. But he never got to meet her.
“Although I haven’t met Beyoncé, what matters the most to me is the collaboration.
“I know that one day I am going to meet my idol,” he said, adding that he has a far larger following abroad than here at home.
“People overseas are obsessed with my sound and style of music. I guess they can relate to my music, it sounds similar to techno music.”
Beyoncé, who plays Nala in the new version of the Lion King film released this weekend, described the soundtrack as a love letter to Africa.
She kept her promise to find “the best talent from Africa”, telling US broadcaster ABC in an interview: “I wanted it to be authentic to what is beautiful about the music in Africa.”
Other artists featured on her album are Nigerian-born musicians WizKid, Tekno, Yemi Alade and Burna Boy.
Gqom and House queen Busiswa Gqulu was also among those who bagged the lifetime opportunity to work with Queen Bey, which she described as “big, special, priceless and something that you can’t buy”.
When Busiswa received the news that she would be working on the album, she was in studio with Nigerian singer Mr Eazi and his Ghanaian producer Guilty Beatz.
“Beyoncé’s team actually inboxed Beatz telling him they had been trying to get me on the project, but they hadn’t been able to reach me. But they see me in studio with them, does he think I would be interested,” she said.
“Beatz showed me the inbox and I was blown away and accepted [it as] an opportunity,” she added, gushing that Beyoncé was the greatest artist of all time and the opportunity to work with her was aspirational.
“It’s not something I saw coming, especially this year. I am just honoured and grateful, because I understand the impact that this album has globally,” she said.
Busiswa only heard the song for the very first time last Friday. Beyoncé’s staffers played the song to her over the phone.
“I was privileged to hear the song before it was launched. Knowing that I am going to be on the song was a big deal to me. I even shed a tear – it was a tear of joy.”
Unlike other artists, for the Mzansi Youth Choir it was a huge surprise because they weren’t aware they were featured on the album.
The choir’s musical director, James Bassingthwaighte said: “We received the news on the day of the release and it was such an honour for us.
“We knew we were working on a big project and with an international artist, but we had no idea it was Beyoncé. The choir is so excited,” he said.
The choir also shared the stage with Beyoncé at the Global Citizen concert last year.
Rapper Anatii composed two songs for the album, and showed his gratitude by posting this on Instagram: “Blessings come down! Enkosi Beyoncé. Big up to the incredible team behind The Gift. The energy was pure, the cultural shift has begun! Umthandazo uyasebenza.”
Moonchild Sanelly also expressed her excitement and gratitude on social media, saying everyone who knew her was aware that it had always been her dream to work with Beyoncé.
“I have no words to explain and express my gratitude for being one of the chosen ones for the Lion King soundtrack, by my ultimate favourite artist in the world,” she wrote.
