Text by Deborah D.E.E.P. Mouton

Queen Nandi, Mother of Shaka; Zulu Tribe

“I AM NOT YOUR GOD!” is a song written for soprano and piano that gives Queen Nandi of Zulu dialogue to speak to her son beyond the grave. Nandi Bhebe became pregnant with Shaka by the leader of the Zulu tribe out of wedlock and was treated so poorly that she left without Shaka. Treatment got bad for Shaka, so his uncle had to smuggle him out of Zulu to get him to Nandi. Most tribes Nandi went to after also treated her poorly, and Shaka witnessing it all, carried rage towards those tribes. Shaka trained as a warrior and became chief of their tribe. Upon notice of his Father passing, he conquered Zulu by military force and claimed the throne. Shaka Zulu, known for his war tactics and vast military force, appointed Nandi Bhebe, his mother, as Queen and his advisor. This kind of power was unknown to women at the time, and with it, she established Female military, war plans, and often used her position to inflict revenge upon the many tribes who wronged her while Shaka was young. Shaka loved his mother so much to the point of worship, and he valued her ideas, wisdom, and existence. When Nandi passed, Shaka was so wrought with grief that it turned to rage. Shaka enforced grief among the Zulu tribe for a year following Queen Nandi’s death by means of human sacrifice, animal sacrifice, and induced famine. 

“I AM NOT YOUR GOD!” explores a dialogue that Queen Nandi might have with Shaka, to stop the senseless violence, and to stop forcing people to worship her beyond the grave. This is a slant commentary on Black Women being often placed in the “savior” position, reclaiming humanness. Musically, this piece travels many styles of music including jazz, South African music, abstract music, etc. Much of it is meant to carry the strength of Nandi in its sound and ethereal music to convey a voice beyond the grave.