Lawu said the song was created to celebrate the city’s new identity, while reminding young people to take pride in their roots and local history. “At that time I was not earning anything, I was just doing it for the love of music and to get my name out there, but it turned into something bigger than I thought,” Lawu said. He credited the Buffalo City metro’s former carnival for having played a major role in elevating local musicians by providing opportunities for them to perform alongside nationally recognised artists.
“That carnival helped a lot of us, because we were finally recognised as artists and we were paid after performing,” he said. “When it was cancelled, many local artists suffered because there were few opportunities left.” Despite the challenges facing the local creative industry, Lawu said the renaming of East London had brought renewed optimism among artists. “The name KuGompo City gives us hope, because it makes us feel seen as a community and as creatives,” he said.
Inspired by the rebranding, Lawu began working on the song just days after the announcement. The track took three days to produce and focuses on celebrating the city’s transformation while honouring its cultural heritage. “I want people, especially the youth, to be proud of where they come from despite everything they have been through and endured.”
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