TAWANDA CHARI
Pariah (Deluxe) by Shona Prince opens with a poignant monologue that immediately sets a contemplative tone: "I want you to know something. I'm not here to tell you who you are. I cannot solve your problems. What I will do is hold up a mirror. You will lead and I will follow. So whenever you're ready, we can begin."
This introduction is an invitation to a shared space of vulnerability, much like the beginnings of a therapy session. It speaks to the universal truth that while we inherently possess the capacity for self resolution, accountability and support are often the catalysts for showing up and confronting what needs mending.
Takura holds up that mirror, allowing us to confront our vulnerabilities, celebrate our joys, and navigate our losses. It’s an album that doesn’t offer easy answers but instead provides a comforting presence, a soulful soundtrack to the ongoing process of healing and self discovery. A truly profound and essential listen from one of Zimbabwe's most talented musical voices.
Shona Prince doesn’t shy away from spiritual truths either. The album opens with a powerful song echoing Revelation 2:4: “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.”
The song beautifully articulates the essence of returning to one's foundational faith. The song is a call to remember the initial fervor and devotion that once consumed hearts, urging a return to the simple yet profound appreciation for one's spiritual roots. The seamless vocal contributions from Zimpraise, Nonhlanhla, and Salome, coupled with Spirit Fingers' crisp and joyful production, elevate First Love to an almost ethereal experience, leaving an inexplicable feeling of warmth and hope.
Nherera (Orphan) is one of the album’s most painful but powerful moments. Shona Prince taps into the hollow space left behind by loss; specifically the loss of parents. Wrestling with death, questioning its permanence and the emptiness it leaves behind. The song doesn’t offer easy answers if any at all. Particularly with the raw depiction of tears and the unsettling urge to follow those who have departed.
Instead, it asks why grief never leaves. Why the pain never really fades. But amid the pain, there’s a gentle whisper of healing: “maybe sometimes, there is healing in remembering.” A reminder that memories are bridges to the ones we’ve lost.
Being an R&B album, Pariah (Deluxe) naturally gravitates towards the multifaceted dynamics of love and relationships. "Chipo" beautifully captures the unexpected wonder of falling in love, a delightful contrast to the complexities explored in other tracks.
Meanwhile, CTL (Cross That Line) featuring Desire Kuda serves as a boundary setting song. “Don’t say you love someone if you don’t mean it.” A necessary warning in today’s emotionally dishonest world.
Then there’s Tikango Danana with ExQ—a song that asks, “What if we just get into a relationship?” No overthinking. No fear. Just choosing love, right now. But the sobering Someone Else reminds us that timing isn’t always on our side. It depicts the painful reality of unrequited love, of falling for someone who is already entangled or unavailable, perhaps even married. It's a melancholic yet realistic portrayal of life's often harsh truth: in life, you rarely get what you want but sometimes, just enough of what you need.
Stream here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kzd1Z7iYBtdCBUDHwUK-D5WokB7Dq40zo&si=hedprJKHSzmnUeld
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