Artist bio

We are four people on one team; Team Ushindi. Just regular people, following Jesus and serving God in every way we can, especially in the creative industries. You can find us mostly on the east side of Lake Victoria in Tanzania, East Africa. If you want to know more, or contact us for our services, see the info below. Steven Chuchu: Singer, songwriter, choirmaster, etc... YouTube: Steven Chuchu https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCet-bwPIZ6T5mWpPYC2S_xw Instagram: @stechuchu https://instagram.com/stechuchu?igshid=611wt8013jct Facebook; Steve Chuchu https://facebook.com/steve.chuchu.3 Talents Media, Mr. Talent (Yusufu Isack) Instagram: @talents_media_crew Https://Instagram.com/talents_media_crew YouTube: https://Youtube.com/talents media crew WhatsApp/call +255762801751 Talents Media can be found on Mission Street, Ilemela county, Mwanza Region. I am a Gospel music producer. Frank John Kasimbi: Kasimbi Media Production, Bunda, Mara, Tanzania +255676230432 Stephanie Biggs: Promoting local arts, and encouraging local artists, everywhere I am. Https://inspiroartsalliance.com https://actintl.givingfuel.com/stephanie-biggs

Title

Sisi ni Washindi

Medium/Genre

Gospel / Inspirational

Artist Statement

To open our artist’s statement, we would like to note that what we offer in our submission for this contest is the best of ourselves that we can offer in this season, with all the skills, talents, and spirit we have. As we are sure is true with many groups who submit to this contest, we saw, felt, and fought this spiritual war while creating our submission. We are well aware that many have done better than us in both technical and artistic skill, but if nothing else, we are praying that through our submission we shine as God’s children. None of us on this team work with large media houses with significant followings and large budgets. We are really just regular people, serving God on the east side of Lake Victoria. We cannot compete with commercially produced artists and labels from Dar es Salaam or Arusha, Tanzania, or even Nairobi, Kenya. Regardless of where we place in this contest, we are confident that what we have created pleases God and carries a message that will build others in their faith in Jesus while encouraging them to stand strong in the war being fought over our souls.

Our submission to the Engage Art Contest properly sits in an emerging genre that some call, "Gospel Flava." This kind of music draws from both the "Bongo Flava" and Gospel music genres here in Tanzania. We would like to share a bit about these genres with you, particularly since they might be unfamiliar.

Made widely known by artists such as Diamond Platnumz, Harmonize, Nandy, Abba, Ali Kiba, Zuchu and labels and producers such as Wasafi, Hanscana, ZoomXtra, and many others, Bongo Flava is uniquely Tanzanian and influences pop music all over East Africa. Since its emergence in Dar es Salaam (aka Bongo), Tanzania in the early 2000s, it has become the pop genre of its’ generation and the next. Bongo Flava is known for its' individual artists (as opposed to groups), tenor male voices, strong use of auto-tune, electronic sounds, lighthearted feel and African beats and imagery, particularly from the Swahili coast. Its' videos showcase both the wealthy and the poor, are always in motion, and don't fail to set the next dance trend with the youth.

Gospel Flava gives the sounds, styles, and even sometimes video production of Bongo Flava a Gospel message while also mixing and matching elements from Tanzanian Gospel. As well known as Bongo Flava, Tanzanian Gospel relies heavily on circular, mostly major chord progressions, call and response between a lead singer and a group, choir, keyboard, guitar, bass, and drum instrumentation, and of course, Christian themes and messages. Tanzanian Gospel is influenced by Sabene (originally a Congolese genre), Muziki wa Dansi (an older Tanzanian pop genre), as well as Nigerian and South African Gospel genres. Victory over Satan and all powers of darkness, God's supremacy, uniqueness, worthiness and capability, as well as our reliance on and gratitude to God are common themes in Tanzanian Gospel.

In addition to the music, the visuals and video production for our submission also combines values from both Bongo Flava and Tanzanian Gospel. As we mentioned earlier, that the camera is always in motion is typical Bongo Flava, as is the occasional slow motion clip. Much of the wardrobe in our submission is both Bongo Flava and Tanzanian Gospel. The short bits of acting, i.e. the scenes with weapons and Bibles, and even the gym scenes transparently show our local environment. This, along with filming some scenes in church settings is also common in Tanzanian Gospel music videos. Lastly, we have intentionally chosen to produce our video in a lower quality format so that it does not use much space on phones and USB flash drives or SD cards. Most people in Tanzania listen to music on their phones or in a stereo of some kind with a USB flash input, and the smaller file size makes it easier to transport and share.

As an emerging and evolving genre, Gospel Flava's lasting characteristics are yet to be seen, but what we offer here in our submission combines elements from both Bongo Flava and Tanzanian Gospel. On the Bongo side are the vocals, electronic sounds, the timeline beat, and song structure. Tanzanian Gospel shows through in this song's opening lines, strong gospel message, and in part, its' video production. This use of an emerging genre that combines already well established genres gives our submission longevity with a wide audience here in Tanzania and East Africa.

As we go on to explain in the Contest Topic Fit section, this music video means more to us than the music genres and social context. We lived this video while we were making it, and pray that God shines through it to everyone who needs to what thos message.

How it fits into contest

As we hinted at earlier, daily victory over Satan and the powers of darkness is a common theme in Tanzanian Gospel. That the spiritual realm impacts the physical is a major worldview in Africa, Tanzania included. Spiritual solutions are regularly sought for physical problems of any and every kind. Jesus and His church are one place, the ONLY place for genuine Jesus followers, that these solutions are found. Moreover, people also seek protection and favor from Jesus against the spiritual forces that want to do them harm. The great multitude of deliverance and prophetic ministries found in urban and semi-urban areas all over the African continent illustrate this worldview.

Considering all of this, spiritual war is a common topic in Tanzania, particularly, it seems, among Pentecostal and independent churches. Most of us on this team are part of Pentecostal or independent churches. Translating Ephesians 6:10-20 into themes that resonate strongly in the lives of the people surrounding us is easily done. For our submission, we chose every Christian's firm and assured status as winners for our theme. We believe this is the essence of what it means "to stand" in Ephesians 6:13, and resist Satan. The following paragraphs explain in further detail how this theme is illustrated in our submission, in three parts: the video and visuals, the music, and finally the lyrics.

Without the video, our submission would not be complete. One of our weapons in this spiritual war is prayer, for ourselves and for others. This is one way we communicate with God, as well as support our brothers and sisters in Christ. For that reason, we have included several prayer scenes in our submission. What you see is fairly typical. In addition, the gym scenes towards the beginning and end of our submission are meant to illustrate that our war is not physical, but spiritual. This is also at the heart of the scenes where Steven Chuchu (lead singer) is breaking up a fight, and as Jesus’ ambassador, is teaching the combatants about the true nature of the war we are fighting. The scenes where Steve is reading a Bible are also meant to illustrate the word of God as another one of our weapons. Finally, we have also made an effort to show our typical environments by filming in churches, neighborhoods, and the natural areas around us. The scenes filmed on the rock show the Serengeti Plain on the left and Lake Victoria in the distance on the right.

Although we are addressing deep and serious topics in our submission, we intentionally chose to pair our lyrics with lighthearted and joyful music. War is difficult and traumatic, but victory is joyful and celebratory, even if colored with the sadness of loss. For these reasons, in our submission you hear major tonalities and danceable rhythms characteristic of Bongo Flava.

To people who feel like they face genuine and very real threats on every side, this message of firm and undisputed victory is not only encouraging, but provides strength to keep living; to persevere for as long as necessary. Therefore, the opening lines of our submission describe our perpetual standing state, reminding the listener about the spiritual war we are fighting, while encouraging us to wisely use the weapons we have in God's strength to resist our enemy, Satan.

Knowing that an all-powerful God is actively fighting for us, as in the first verse of our submission, especially when physical circumstances tell us we are undoubtedly loosing, grows in us hope, courage, and boldness to live as winners, i.e. like Jesus taught us to live; as loved by God and loving each other (John 15:9-17), rather than fighting and killing each other (Romans 12:9-21, Galatians 5:13-26). In Jesus' name and as His ambassadors on earth (Ephesians 6:20) along with everyone who came before us and who will come after us, we share in Jesus' victory now and through eternity.

In the second verse of our submission, the life of Joseph (Genesis ch. 37-48) illustrates this truth from the first verse. Joseph faced many disappointments in his life. At face value these seem like obstacles placed by Satan in a plan to destroy Joseph, but God's plan was to save Joseph's whole family, and give the nation of Israel a place to thrive and grow before entering the land He had promised them. We are not given much detail, but what we can see in Genesis is that through all these devastating turns, Joseph continued in good character to acknowledge and honor God, living in a way that pleased him (ex. Genesis 39:7-10, 41:15-16). This tells us that in the face of genuine opposition in his spiritual battles, he stayed close to God, stood, and won. In some ways too, Joseph's suffering previews Jesus' suffering on earth on our behalf. Killing Jesus seemed like victory for the powers of darkness, but ultimately, it was God's plan to save all of us. This is referenced in the last line of the second verse of our submission, "katika jina la Yesu, tushinde", "in the name of Jesus, we win!"

Continuing in this same theme, the lyrics in the bridge of our submission emphasize that the weapons we have to fight in this war are the Word of God and the blood of Jesus, as opposed to weapons like missiles, live ammunition, bows, swords, and clubs. The word of God, meaning the Bible, teaches us about our defensive weapons, truth, peace, and faith (Ephesians 6:14-16). It is also the offensive weapon (Ephesians 6:17) we use to destroy the lies, chaos, and mistrust brewed by our enemy. By the blood of Jesus we are brought into the Family of God and are therefore protected and fought for by God, our Father, with eternal access to His strength and victory. These weapons enable us to keep standing, regardless of the obstacles and barriers Satan puts up to destroy us.

Therefore, in conclusion, we stand as winners in this spiritual war. It's a perpetual, joyful state of being for every Jesus follower. As sung in the chorus, "sisi ni washindi." Not "we were winners," or even that "we are not yet winners," but we ARE winners right now. Even though we are hard pressed on all sides (2 Corinthians 4:7-10) in this spiritual war with unseen forces that tangibly impact the people and world around us, we win, and we win joyfully. We fight in the war, and because of Jesus, we are the winners.

Credits

Steven Chuchu - singer-songwriter
Yusufu Isack - audio production
Frank John Kasimbi - video
Reuben sanweli - video
Stephanie Biggs - creative translator
Winner's Choir at PAG Kabarimu, BUNDA, Tanzania
Shadrack Gujo - secondary singer

How to Purchase this Artwork

N/A

Other Goods & Services Available from this Artist

N/A

Music / Sound Sources

All sounds in this video are original to our team

Transcript / Lyrics

Sisi ni Washindi Lyrics Transcription

English

Opening Lines
Our war, Christians, is not of flesh and blood. Our war is in the spiritual realm.
Finally, beloved ones be more skillful/clever in the Lord's capability and strength. Put on the whole armor of the God of Heaven so that you all can resist Satan.

Verse 1:
We have the Spirit of God. It is winning the war for us. In the world we are Jesus' ambassadors. This victory Jesus has is also our victory, Christians. We fight in the war, and still we are winning.

Chorus:
Lead: We are winners
Group: Winners
Lead: We fight in the war, but we are winning.
Group: Winners
Lead: Even when we are attacked, we are still winners.
Group: Winners
Lead: We fight in the war, we are winners
Group: Winners
Lead: vocables

Verse 2:
Joseph was sold into slavery. They wanted him to get lost on the way, but God's plan was to save them all. Satan brings obstacles so that we can't continue, but God has put a plan in place; in the name of Jesus, we win!

Bridge
We do not fight with missiles, live ammunition, nor with bows, swords, and clubs. Our weapons are the Word of God and the blood of Jesus.

Chorus:
Lead: We are winners
Group: Winners
Lead: We fight in the war, but we are winning.
Group: Winners
Lead: Even when we are attacked, we are still winners.
Group: Winners
Lead: We fight in the war, we are winners
Group: Winners
Lead: vocables

Lead: We are winners
Group: Winners
Lead: We fight in the war, but we are winning,
Group: Winners
Lead: in the name of Jesus.

Closing
Lead: Really, us
Group: Winners
Lead: Us
Group: Winners
Lead: Really, us
Group: Winners
Lead: Hm, we are not afraid.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Swahili

Mistari ya kufungua
Vita yetu Wakristo siyo ya damu na nyama. Vita yetu ni ya ulimwengu wa roho.
Hatimaye mzidi kuwa hodari wapendwa, katika uweza na nguvu zake Bwana. Vaeni silaha zote za Mungu wa Mbinguni, ili muweze kumpinga Shetani.

Beti ya Kwanza:
Tunaye roho wa Mungu. Anatushindia vita. Sisi ni mabalozi wa Yesu duniani. Ule ushindi wake Yesu ndio ushindi wetu Wakristo. Tunapigana vita sisi, na bado tunashinda.

Chorus
Kiongozi: Sisi ni washindi!
Kundi: Washindi
Kiongozi: Oh oh, tunapigana vita, lakini tunashinda.
Kundi: Washindi
Kiongozi: Hata tukishambuliwa, sisi ni washindi tu.
Kundi: Washindi
Kiongozi: Eh, eh, tunapigana vita, sisi ni washindi.
Kundi: Washindi
Kiongozi: mmmmmmmmm

Beti ya Pili:
Yusufu aliuzwa utumwani. Walitaka apotee njiani, lakini mpango wa Mungu ulikuwa ni kuwaokoa wao. Shetani analeta vikwazo ili sisi tusiendelee. Ila Mungu ameweka mpango; kwa jina la Yesu, tushinde!

Daraja
Hatupigii makombora, risasi za moto, wala kwa upinde, mapanga, na rungu. Silaha zetu ni neno la Mungu na damu ya Yesu!

Chorus
Kiongozi: Sisi ni washindi!
Kundi: Washindi
Kiongozi: Oh oh, tunapigana vita, lakini tunashinda.
Kundi: Washindi
Kiongozi: Hata tukishambuliwa sisi ni washindi tu.
Kundi: Washindi
Kiongozi: Eh, eh, tunapigana vita, sisi ni washindi.
Kundi: Washindi
Kiongozi: mmmmmmmmm

Kiongozi: Sisi ni washindi!
Kundi: Washindi
Kiongozi: Tunapigana vita, lakini tunashinda
Kundi: Washindi
Kiongozi: kwa jina la Yesu!

Mwisho
Kiongozi: Kweli, sisi
Kundi: Washindi
Kiongozi: Sisi
Kundi Washindi
Kiongozi: Kweli, sisi
Kundi: Washindi
Kiongozi: Hm, hatuogopi ogopi

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