Lulu launches ‘Rivers for Life’

Talented musician Lulu on Tuesday launched an album titled Rivers for Life (Mpumulo) at Korea Gardens in Lilongwe.

This follows a partnership between Lulu and Iclei Africa, which works with local governments to promote sustainable development in Africa.

According to the organisation, environmental change is widespread, with the global rate of species loss pegged at between 1,000 and 10,000 times higher than the natural extinction rate.

This trend is expected to be exacerbated by habitat loss linked to climate change.

The organisation said over 90 percent of excess atmospheric carbon dioxide is absorbed by the world’s oceans, lakes and rivers causing acidification, threatening aquatic biodiversity.

It is in this vein that climate change poses unpredictable stress factors to urban areas.

According to the 5th Assessment Report on Climate Change from the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change, this change in climate is anthropogenic and can only be stopped by humans.

This is why Iclei Africa has taken a leading role in preserving the environment by utilising the arts.

Lulu’s album, particularly the song ‘Mpumulo’, is there to disseminate messages on the importance of conserving the environment.

In the song ‘Mpumulo’, which is the title track, Lulu gives a strong message on the loss of biodiversity and green spaces, which complicates climate change mitigation measures.

Biodiversity and green spaces provide essential ecosystem services that contribute towards climate change adaptation mechanisms such as moderating temperature and reducing the impacts of extreme events.

Lulu composed the song after observing that Lilongwe River, which is the main source of drinking water in the capital, is silting up.

Iclei Africa Project Manager, Jess Kavonic, said Lilongwe River is important to the ecosystem.

She said they are working with Lilongwe City Council on aspects of the ecological footprint of human civilisation.

Kovonic said it is disheartening that large quantities of waste are dumped in the river at Tsoka Market.

The launch will see the free distribution of CDs as part of disseminating messages in the preservation of natural resources.

Lulu’s Manager, Levi Msakambewa, said the project is an important call in the preservation of natural resources.

“The project is looking at the state of the environment. Our rivers have become dumping sites and are no longer healthy, in terms of serving as clean sources of water,” Msakambewa said.

He said artists have a role to play in preserving the environment; hence, Lulu coming up with an album.

Lulu has also worked on a music video of the song ‘Mpumulo’, which will be screened in some local television stations in the country.

The album has nine tracks and some of the songs are ‘Mwaposa onse’, ‘Muuze’ and ‘Chisomo’, a collaboration with Wendy Harawa and Nigerian gospel singer Jimmy D Psalmist.