American Grammy-nominated artist Samuel Christian has released a new Swahili single titled “Mpenzi, inspired by the scenic beauty and cultural richness of Mombasa.
Though he has never visited the coastal city himself, Christian credits a close friend living there for virtually introducing him to its landscapes which shaped the song’s romantic narrative.
A member of the Recording Academy with an impressive catalog that includes collaborations with legends Earth, Wind & Fire and Big Boi of OutKast, Christian took on the creative challenge of singing in Swahili with intentional care.
“The biggest creative challenge was making sure I was pronouncing the words correctly as well as singing them correctly,” he shared. “I would never want to disrespect anyone by not respecting a mother language.”
When asked about future musical directions, Christian expressed strong interest in creating a full-length Afro-fusion project. “An Afro-fusion album would be awesome, I would love to do that!” he revealed, signaling a deeper dive into cross-cultural sounds.
Reflecting on his career highlights, Christian acknowledged his work with Earth, Wind & Fire as one of his happiest accomplishment an experience that continues to influence his artistic evolution.