By Iminza Keboge
Published October 10, 2021
What About Me?
Yes, that is the title of a new song from a Congolese-Angolan producer, singer and songwriter who prefers to be called Batila (full name Batila Ange da Costa), that is being released on October 22, 2021.
The pop song, that shall be released through Galileo Music, is about finding personal independence from stereotypes and about breaking free from the confines imposed on us by both ourselves and others.
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What About Me, that’s taken off Tatamana (cling on in Kikongo), Batila’s debut album that shall be released a month later on November 19, is an infectious song that crosses many genres and stands out as a proud Afro-beat pop song.
The Berlin (Germany)-based Batila describes Tatamana as being his ‘journey to African spirituality, self-love and black love’.
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The musician, who is better known as Batila, was born in Congo-Kinshasa was raised between Berlin and London (Britain)as the first- born child to a set of Congolese and Angolan parents. He says the name Batila comes from his grandfather and means ‘one who protects, conserves and holds it together’.
“I am proud and in love with Congolese music … That’s why I also name my sound Bantu Soul… it’s music for my people by people,” he says. “I dedicate my music to music lovers, people who like to dive a bit deeper without sounding too intellectual. I dedicate my music to the youth and my generation in the diaspora, who are not fighting to be accepted by the white man. I AM, I don’t need permission, I don’t need to be cool, trendy.”
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Other musicians featured on What About Me include:
- Mauro Pandolfino and Andre Matov on electric guitars
- Dodo NKishi on drums
- Tunde Alibaba on percussion
- Jeff Chappah on bass
- Alex Trebo on keys.
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In case you would like to memorise or sing along to What About Me, here are the lyrics:
Tell everyone that i am moving on,
moving on to different spheres,
no regrets nor doubts there will be i vow
spare myself from crocodile tears
cleaned my closet left it all behind
my little secrets you have all revealed
i am just a man with a new pair of shoes ,
moving on to be the hero of my life
And don’t you tell me now,
what about all night shifts that you’ve worked so hard,
what about that hustle just to be someone,
what about me the one you say you love
Tell them all that it don’t hurt no more
I freed myself from expectations
do what i can and let him do the rest,
unfasten my seatbelt and take the hands of the wheel, ..
And here i am a free man
so free…
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