YouTube Success Story Surpasses 316,000 Views in Under Two Weeks
NAIROBI, KENYA / LONDON, UK – In an extraordinary cross-cultural musical journey, South African born musician Michael Mathews, performing as mikejmat, has partnered with renowned Kenyan musician and producer Nes Mburu to create a captivating Swahili version of Michael’s original English/Zulu song. The collaboration, “End of the World,” has already garnered over 316,000 views on YouTube in less than two weeks, demonstrating the universal appeal of African storytelling through music.
The project originated from an unexpected connection when Michael’s amateur Zulu-language song gained surprising popularity in Kenya. Recognizing the potential for deeper cultural exchange, Michael reached out to Nes Mburu, one of Kenya’s most celebrated music producers, to create a professional Swahili adaptation specifically for East African audiences.
“This collaboration represents more than just a translation – it’s a bridge between Southern and Eastern African musical and cultural traditions,” says Michael, whose classical music background and science career path make this artistic venture all the more remarkable. The song seamlessly alternates between English and Swahili, employing traditional African storytelling techniques while maintaining universal themes that resonate across cultures.
For Mburu, born in the small town of Thika, 45 kilometers from Nairobi, music has been a lifelong calling. His parents discovered his unique connection to music at a very early age – he would only sleep peacefully when the radio was playing, waking immediately when the music stopped, regardless of the time.
The collaborative track explores profound themes of life and death, generational cycles, destruction and rebuilding, and the eternal patterns of human existence. The poignant lyric “make yourself comfortable, don’t be startled” serves as a gentle reminder that endings are natural parts of life’s journey.
Michael’s inspiration draws from his formative years attending a Western classical music school in a Zulu area during the late 1970s, where he witnessed the inherent musicality of the local staff. “The cleaners, chefs, and other workers had music as an inherent part of their culture. You could overhear them singing individually or together while doing their day jobs,” Michael recalls.
The song’s genesis came from a single charred page he discovered in a burnt-out house, bearing the words “…after the destruction, we will rebuild…” – later identified as being from Credo Mutwa’s “Indaba My Children,” the first book about Zulu beliefs and mythology written for Western readers.
Currently balancing his science career with a renewed passion for music, Michael is working with 15 musicians worldwide on projects spanning from opera to blues, marking this collaboration as the first part of a larger artistic renaissance in his life.
“End of the World” is now available on all major streaming platforms including Spotify and Apple Music, with the music video continuing to gain momentum on YouTube.
Stream “End of the World”:
• YouTube: https://youtu.be/iDxXV9KUYfE
• Audio Streaming Platforms: https://share.amuse.io/track/mikejmat-end-of-the-world
About Nes Mburu: Born in Thika, Kenya, Nes Mburu is a multi-instrumentalist, singer and producer whose musical journey began at very young age. A master of the conga, guitar, and piano, Mburu has become one of East Africa’s most innovative musicians, known for his ability to blend traditional sounds with contemporary production techniques while bringing joy and positive impact through his music to audiences worldwide.
About Michael Mathews (mikejmat): Michael is a South African born artist living in London, UK. With a classical music background, he combines his scientific and technical career with a passionate pursuit of cross-cultural musical collaborations, working with musicians globally across multiple genres. A theme developing organically across his projects is a deep sense of storytelling with unusual mixing of languages while adhering to universal themes.
Contact Details: [email protected]
