How Returning to Her Zambian Roots Helped Rapper Sampa The Great Find Her Voice
In short: For Zambian-born artist Sampa The Great, the global pandemic became a catalyst for a profound creative homecoming. After building a successful music career in Australia, she returned to Zambia to record As Above, So Below, an album that strips away her public persona to explore identity, language, and mental health.
Sampa The Great, a rapper, singer, and songwriter, spent much of her formative years in Botswana before finding musical success in Australia. However, the onset of the global pandemic prompted a significant shift in her trajectory. Returning to her birthplace of Zambia, she began the process of creating her album As Above, So Below. This project marked a departure from her previous work, as she sought to shed the metaphorical mask she had worn throughout her career and engage in a more vulnerable, personal form of artistic expression.
During the production of this album, Sampa connected with National Geographic Explorer and wildlife biologist Danielle Lee. Their conversation, featured in the Overheard at National Geographic podcast series, centers on the intersection of music, history, and the natural world. Central to their discussion is the therapeutic potential of nature for mental health, as well as the profound influence of language on the human experience. Sampa reflects on the complexities of feeling like a foreigner, a theme that resonates with her journey across different continents and cultures.
This episode is the second installment of a four-part series titled The Soul of Music, which examines the relationships between music, exploration, and Black history. By documenting these conversations, the podcast aims to provide listeners with a deeper understanding of how artists navigate their heritage and environment. Through the lens of Sampa’s homecoming, the series highlights how returning to one's roots can serve as both a creative anchor and a vital tool for personal healing, offering a rare glimpse into the internal world of a modern musician.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: The Soul of Music: Sampa The Great Returns to her Roots | Podcast | Overheard at National Geographic
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