Mwaki

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"Mwaki"
Single by Zerb featuring Sofiya Nzau
from the EP Surrender
LanguageKikuyu
English title"Fire"
Released10 November 2023 (2023-11-10)
GenreProgressive house[1]
Length3:28
LabelTh3rd Brain
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Zerb
Zerb singles chronology
"Use Somebody"
(2023) 		"Mwaki"
(2023) 		"Addicted"
(2024)
Sofiya Nzau singles chronology
"Saufiya"
(2023) 		"Mwaki"
(2023) 		"Just Another Woman"
(2023)
Music video
"Mwaki" on YouTube

"Mwaki" is a song by Brazilian DJ and producer Zerb from his third extended play (EP), Surrender (2023). It features Kenyan singer Sofiya Nzau who performs the song in Kikuyu, a language spoken by the Bantu ethnic group native to Central Kenya.[1] "Mwaki" was released as a single on 10 November 2023 through the independent record label, Th3rd Brain.[2] A month later, it went viral on the video-sharing service TikTok.[3]

Background and composition[edit]

Zerb discovered Nzau through vocal tracks she uploaded online and used it for his production of "Mwaki".[1]

"Mwaki" is an progressive house song written in the key of G minor with a tempo of 120 beats per minute.[1][4] The title translates to "Fire" in Kikuyu language.[1] Nzau explained that the song is about "a woman who is in love with a man her parents are not in approval of, but she's willing to fight for him, she's willing to cover him. Just so she can be with him. Just so she can experience love."[5]

Music video[edit]

The music video was directed by Indian director Mikhail Mehran and filmed at Hell's Gate National Park in Kenya. Zerb and Nzau appear in the video with a bevy of Kenyan dancers. The video was released on 29 January 2024.[1]

Track listings[edit]

  • Digital download and streaming
  1. "Mwaki" – 3:28
  2. "Mwaki" (sped up) – 2:58
  3. "Mwaki" (slowed) – 4:09
  • Digital download and streaming – Tiësto's VIP mix
  1. "Mwaki" (Tiësto's VIP mix) – 2:40
  2. "Mwaki" – 3:28
  1. "Mwaki" (Major Lazer remix) – 3:15
  2. "Mwaki" (Tiësto's VIP mix) – 2:40
  3. "Mwaki" – 3:28
  • Digital download and streaming – Refreshed
  1. "Mwaki" – 3:28
  2. "Mwaki" (Tiësto's VIP mix) – 2:40
  3. "Mwaki" (Major Lazer remix) – 3:15
  4. "Mwaki" (Chris Avantgarde and Kevin de Vries remix) – 4:11
  5. "Mwaki" (Tyler ICU remix) – 4:02
  6. "Mwaki" (Duke Dumont and Kiko Franco remix) – 2:33
  7. "Mwaki" (ATB Anthem remix) – 3:18
  8. "Mwaki" (Major League Djz remix) – 5:31
  9. "Mwaki" (&friends remix) – 3:54
  10. "Mwaki" (Timmy Trumpet remix) – 2:57
  11. "Mwaki" (Mia Moretti remix) – 3:33
  12. "Mwaki" (Franky Wah remix) – 3:37
  13. "Mwaki" (Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano remix) – 2:12
  14. "Mwaki" (KVSH and Dynamick remix) – 2:42
  15. "Mwaki" (Skytech remix) – 2:47
  16. "Mwaki" (Robin Tordjman remix) – 3:32
  17. "Mwaki" (Kordhell remix) – 1:45
  18. "Mwaki" (sped up) – 2:58
  19. "Mwaki" (slowed) – 4:09

Charts[edit]

Chart performance for "Mwaki"
Chart (2024) Peak
position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[6] 50
Belarus Airplay (TopHit)[7] 1
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[8] 8
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[9] 6
Bulgaria (PROPHON)[10] 3
Estonia Airplay (TopHit)[11] 24
France (SNEP)[12] 50
Germany (Official German Charts)[13] 25
Global Excl. US (Billboard)[14] 123
Greece International (IFPI)[15] 10
Italy (FIMI)[16] 69
Kazakhstan Airplay (TopHit)[17] 12
Lithuania (AGATA)[18] 97
Luxembourg (Billboard)[19] 15
Moldova Airplay (TopHit)[20] 21
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[21] 21
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[22] 28
Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)[23] 49
Portugal (AFP)[24] 60
Romania (Billboard)[25] 13
Russia Airplay (TopHit)[26] 9
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[27] 18
UK Singles Sales (OCC)[28] 56

Certifications[edit]

Certifications for "Mwaki"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Italy (FIMI)[29] Gold 50,000‡
Streaming
Greece (IFPI Greece)[30] Gold 1,000,000†

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
† Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f Bain, Katie (29 January 2024). "Zerb & Sofiya Nzau's 'Mwaki' Music Video Has Arrived: Watch". Billboard. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  2. ^ "Mwaki, Zerb". Qobuz. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  3. ^ Storm, Camille (11 December 2023). "The Best East African Songs of 2023". OkayAfrica. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  4. ^ "Zerb, Sofiya Nzau - Mwaki (Extended Mix) [TH3RD BRAIN]". Beatport. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  5. ^ Retief, Chanel (29 January 2024). "For The Record: An African Song Soaring Up Charts Filmed In Kenya". Forbes Africa. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  6. ^ "Zerb, Sofiya Nzau – Mwaki" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  7. ^ "Top Radio Hits Belarus Weekly Chart: 21 March 2024". TopHit. Archived from the original on 26 April 2024. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  8. ^ "Zerb, Sofiya Nzau – Mwaki" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  9. ^ "Zerb, Sofiya Nzau – Mwaki" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  10. ^ "PROPHON – Charts" (in Bulgarian). PROPHON. 29 March 2024. Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  11. ^ "Top Radio Hits Estonia Weekly Chart: 28 March 2024". TopHit. Archived from the original on 21 May 2024. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  12. ^ "Zerb, Sofiya Nzau – Mwaki" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  13. ^ "Zerb, Sofiya Nzau – Mwaki" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  14. ^ "Global Excl. US - 27 April 2024". Billboard. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  15. ^ "Official IFPI Charts – Digital Singles Chart (International) (Week: 18/2024)". IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on 11 May 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  16. ^ "Zerb, Sofiya Nzau – Mwaki". Top Digital Download. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  17. ^ "Top Radio Hits Kazakhstan Weekly Chart: 25 January 2024". TopHit. Archived from the original on 26 April 2024. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  18. ^ "2024 18-os savaitės klausomiausi (TOP 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. 3 May 2024. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  19. ^ "Luxembourg Songs: Week of 27 April 2024". Billboard. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  20. ^ "Top Radio Hits Moldova Weekly Chart: 21 March 2024". TopHit. Archived from the original on 23 May 2024. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  21. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 15, 2024" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  22. ^ "Zerb, Sofiya Nzau – Mwaki" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  23. ^ "OLiS – oficjalna lista airplay" (Select week 17.02.2024–23.02.2024.) (in Polish). OLiS. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  24. ^ "Zerb, Sofiya Nzau – Mwaki". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  25. ^ "Romania Songs: Week of 20 April 2024". Billboard. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  26. ^ "Top Radio Hits Russua Weekly Chart: 4 January 2024". TopHit. Archived from the original on 23 May 2024. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  27. ^ "Zerb, Sofiya Nzau – Mwaki". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  28. ^ "Mwaki - Zerb". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  29. ^ "Italian single certifications – Zerb feat. Sofiya Nzau – Mwaki" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  30. ^ "IFPI Charts – Digital Singles Chart (International) – Εβδομάδα: 18/2024" (in Greek). IFPI Greece. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
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