Spokes h Peace Magents (1997)
In today’s song, South African singer Spokes h keeps promoting the sentence “Peace Magents,” which translates to “Peace, my friends.” In the track of the same name, Ishmael Letona Hlatshwayo, Spokes’ real name, captures the spirit and atmosphere of 1990s township life, reflecting on everyday challenges like the threat of a potential robbery.
Hlatshwayo, who passed away in 2013 due to a blood-related illness, knew how to navigate the streets. In his signature blend of Zulu, English and street slang, he tells his would-be robbers in “Peace Magents” that he’s just going to see his “baby” or “the father,” that he isn’t carrying any money and that they should leave him alone. The track feels like a low-key peace anthem – and it’s an absolute banger. See for yourself:
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