Queen Noma teams up with DJ Maphorisa and Nay Maps for new single — TimesLIVE
In Mdantsane, East London, South Africa, Dr Noma Mbeki, known as Queen Noma, has teamed up with DJ Maphorisa and Nay Maps for the new single Count Your Blessings. The track calls on young people to celebrate their achievements safely, TimesLIVE reports.
Campaign for safe celebrations
The single is part of Queen Noma's Anti-Pens Down Campaign, which is set to launch in Mdantsane on Friday. The campaign concerns safety during so-called pens down celebrations — events where students celebrate the end of their exams.
Queen Noma said she wanted to convey a message important to young people through music that would not be perceived as lecturing. According to her, the song should be one that listeners can not only enjoy, but also take a meaningful message from.
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The Enyobeni tavern tragedy
Queen Noma cited the tragedy at the Enyobeni tavern in the Scenery Park area of East London as one of the reasons for launching the campaign. In June 2022, 21 teenagers aged 13 to 17 died there after coming to celebrate the end of their exams. They collapsed inside the venue; the causes of the tragedy were linked to overcrowding, underage alcohol consumption and suffocation.
The performer stressed that her initiative is not intended to deprive young people of celebrations, but should encourage decisions that will allow them to celebrate achievements safely. She also spoke positively about working with DJ Maphorisa and Nay Maps, noting that each of them brought something of their own to the track.
