Panjea, by Chris Berry

Panjea

by Chris Berry

supported by

	/

Streaming + Download

Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

Purchasable with gift card

$7 USD or more

1.	Panjea 04:32	lyrics	buy track
Just the other day, a baby boy was born Named him Panjea They want a better world Just the other day, a million babies were born Need a place to live They say they want a better world Movement of the people, to change the ways Got to walk to proud line these troubled days Movement of the people, positive day Where there’s a will, there’s a way Ona na Panjea, Ona na Panjea Ona na Panjea, Ona na Panjea The past is the past Oh people let’s let it be The future is our journey Just the other day, the children, millions they came Said they want a better world They say they need a place to live Ona na Panjea, Ona na Panjea Ona na Panjea, Ona na Panjea People of the world, can you see who we are Look toyourself, the truth ain’t very far Ona na Panjea, Ona na Panjea Ona na Panjea, Ona na Panjea
2.	Ndombokoolay 05:03	lyrics	buy track
Ndombi Ko Ndombi Salamusombi Yea yea yea Yeahday Ndombi Ko Ndombi Salamusombi Yea yea yea Yeahday Ndombokoolay, Ndombokoolay, Ndombokoolay, Ndombokoolay So please, please children Don’t do as we’ve done Now even the food is hungry. Deadly rays come from the sun Respect and be respected Preserve and be preserved Let’s give the children what they deserve Ndombokoolay, Ndombokoolay, Ndombokoolay, Ndombokoolay Ndombokoolay, Ndombokoolay, Ndombokoolay, Ndombokoolay Do what you will and harm none It’s life’s right to live To be in balance To take and to give So as the sun shines on a new day So may the same light be shed on a new way. Look into the young one’s eyes Do you want their demise? It’s for the children that we pray Ndombokoolay, Ndombokoolay, Ndombokoolay, Ndombokoolay
3.	Ambassadors of Peace 05:26	lyrics	buy track
Ambassadors of Peace Stand and be counted For it’s later than you think! The battle is hearty! Marin Luther King was a very great man Whose words in these days need we understand It was said not to judge another by the color of their skin But by the content of their character. Words from the prophets people listen but don’t hear They continue to live in fortresses made of fear Walls of segregation have now been brought down So why in the tears of history must we drown? When history isn’t our story anymore? Leave the racists to ear their brutal creeds they hold as sacred For how can life be found in bread made of anger and hatred? Let the racists fight each other down In their pools of confusion themselves they will drown Let those of us who understand that we are all humans with hearts, Join hands! Come together to show those who preach division A new vision Ambassadors of Peace Stand and be counted For it’s later than you think! The battle is hearty! Ambassadors of Peace Stand and be counted! Join hands with those of like minds Regardless of color. Leave the racists to eat their brutal creeds they hold as sacred For how can life be found in bread made of anger and hatred? Let the racists fight each other down In their pools of confusion themselves they will drown Let those of us who understand that we are all humans with hearts Join hands! Come together to show those who preach division A new vision People, why keep on with the old rules when today’s a new game? Not all fruit from the same tree tastes the same
4.	Forgive Them 05:35	lyrics	buy track
Forgive them for they know not what they do Forgive them for they know not what they do I know the blind can’t see, but if they only knew You hear them preaching their words every day To God they say that there’s only one way If life is an arrow, everyone must be their own bow Don’t let them tell you that there’s one path to follow Forgive them for they know not what they do I know the blind can’t see, but if they only knew It is so wrong for everyone to sing their own song If God is within, what souls can you really win? In the minds of the people your scriptures you engrave But are they set free of mentally enslaved Forgive them for they know not what they do
5.	Proud Line 05:08	lyrics	buy track
All these hardships that I faced from the start I use as a stone to sharpen the blade of my heart And with this blade I will cut myself free From the nets that would bind and keep me Cause from the right path they don’t want me to find But I won’t be misled by any false sign Gotta walk the proud line, my friend Gotta walk the proud line Gotta walk the proud line, my friend Gotta walk the proud line As we walk along this road of years You replace my hopes with fears Your seconds are the streams Which carry away my dreams Time, must you be my enemy? My pain is a seed of knowledge I must sow With blood and sweat, into wisdom it will grow Ghosts of fear and insecurity You’ve bent me enough, now let me be You can’t keep me down ‘cause through my struggles I only gain The strength and wisdom to see me through your storms of lightening, thunder and rain Gotta walk the proud line, my friend Gotta walk the proud line Gotta walk the proud line, my friend Gotta walk the proud line
6.	Rujeko 04:34	lyrics	buy track
Rujeko, Rujeko! Rujeko, Rujeko! You’re African Me American Some say our love ain’t right Racist people of the world They’d see us dead, cleared right out of sight Their insecurity makes them call our love impurity But what could be more pure Than my love for you? Rujeko, Rujeko! Rujeko, Rujeko! Rujeko, Rujeko! Rujeko, Rujeko! Pity racist people They clothe themselves in shame Covered in confusion They know not positivity’s name No matter what they say, no matter what they do They can’t keep me from loving you Fear not the beasts of prey Our love they could never take away Rujeko, Rujeko! Rujeko, Rujeko!
7.	Rocking Down Racism 05:00	lyrics	buy track
We rockin’ down racism every day We rockin’ down racism in every way We rockin’ down racism every day We rockin’ down racism in every way Don’t judge me for the color of my skin Judge me for who I am Don’t judge me for the color of my skin Judge me for who I am We rockin’ down racism (Rock it down, rock it down) We rock it every day (Rock it down, rock it down) We rockin’ down racism (Rock it down, rock it down) We rock it to stay (Rock it down, rock it down) We rock it every day (Rock it down, rock it down) Hey yea yea day (Rock it down, rock it down) Hoo ooo ooo (Rock it down, rock it down) Hey yea yea day(Rock it down, rock it down) Hoo ooo ooo (Rock it down, rock it down) Not all fruit from the same tree tastes the same Nor does one man own all the rain Judge not a man by the color of his skin It’s the heart that makes us human I know what I know, And this I know Racism never makes a world go We rockin’ down racism every day We rockin down racism in every way We rockin’ down racism (Rock it down, rock it down) We rock it in America (Rock it down, rock it down) We rock it down in Africa (Rock it down, rock it down) Rock in down in Russia too (Rock it down, rock it down) Rock it down in South America (Rock it down, rock it down) Rock in down in Cuba (Rock it down, rock it down) Rock it down in South Africa (Rock it down, rock it down) Rock it down! Hey yea yea day (Rock it down, rock it down) Hoo ooo ooo (Rock it down, rock it down) Hey yea yea day(Rock it down, rock it down) Hoo ooo ooo (Rock it down, rock it down)
8.	Revolution 04:37	lyrics	buy track
They’ve searched for the answers But answers they can not find We no longer move ahead We fall further behind Science and politics have been oh so unkind They told me all the answers To life they could find 21st century Is now at hand We’ve got to make a change We’ve got to take a stand And if Revolution Is the only solution To rid this world of its pollution Then revolution is on the way Step back and stand aside We’re coming through No longer will we hide Cause we’re the new generation And we want a new nation There’s nothing they can say or do To stop us from coming through For the sake of this earth and the children We’ve got to find something new Revolution Is the only solution To rid this world of its pollution Then revolution is on the way
9.	Lone World 04:02	lyrics	buy track
Why do I feel so alone In a world full of people? So many faces Not so many hearts Looking ahead of you, Who do you see? Is it, oh Is it anybody? You reavh for your brother’s hand But does he understand You say you love me, But do you know me? You reach out to touch me, But will you, will you feel me? You’re looking into my eyes But do you see me? Do you see who I am? Sailing across a sea They call life The waters are rough And they are filled with strife You’re the captain And you’re your only crew Will you make it through? What will you do?
10.	Music is the Medicine 04:16	lyrics	buy track
Music is the medicine World is the patient We are the doctors Are you ready for this? All your political schemes and your economic dreams but none of them seem to be about the people Think about the people You never think about the people Because its the people That run this country its the people its the people Watch out for the people You know its the people Music is the medicine The world is the patient We are the doctors Are you ready for this? Putting money before the hearts When will your compassion start When will you think Think about the people Think about the people Think about the people Got to think about the people Think about the people Think about the people
11.	Battle My Own 03:58	lyrics	buy track
Is this battle my own Or must I fight it alone? Nowhere to run Nowhere to hide From your own insight, yeah They say they know But do they really understand? Is this battle my own Or must I fight it alone? Is this battle my own Or must I fight it alone? Nowhere to run Nowhere to hide From my own insight You say you hear me But do you really know who I am? Is this battle my own Or must I fight it alone? Yeah yayay Get up now Yeah yayay Get up now Yeah yayay Get up now Yeah yayay Get up now
12.	What Have We Done To The World 04:34	lyrics	buy track
What have we done To the world? What have we done To the world? What have we done To the world? We called it progress Will our children call it the same? How can we go forward When we don't know what forward means? Nuclear energy Was supposed to take us so far Look where we are What have we done To the world? What have we done To the world? People What are we going to do? People What are we going to do? People What are we going to do? What have we done To the world? What have we done To the world? From our roots we are so far That we've forgotten who we are Valuing triviality As reality threatens our lives What good is economics Without the world? Now we argue and debate As we move closer to our fate What have we done To the world? What have we done To the world? People What are we going to do? People What are we going to do? People What are we going to do? What have we done To the world? What have we done To the world? What have we done To the world? What have we done To the world?
13.	Where are the Leaders 05:19	lyrics	buy track
I said, where are the leaders? The leaders of today Cause I look and, oh God They are leading the wrong way Seems its only power they seek As they look down upon us They call the meek Must it be capitalism Married to our democracy? Oh how can we be free? Why is money running our country Oh I've got to say Where are the leaders Leaders of today?

about

Chris Berry
(Composer, Arranger, Instrumentalist, Dancer, Teacher, Lecturer and Performer)

Chris Berry was only 13 when his introduction to traditional African drumming set him on a musical pathway that would eventually lead to the number one spot on Zimbabwe’s Hit Pick list (the Zimbabwean equivalent to Billboard’s Top-40). The songs that occupied this coveted position for four consecutive months were featured in Mari ne Chitna, an album that remained at the top of the charts for the entire year of 1992. Mari ne Chitmawas one of two best-selling albums that Chris, along with several of Zimbabwe’s and Mozambique’s finest musicians, recorded in Africa. Two additional successful albums were recorded by Chris and his band Panjea in the United States.

Chris Berry’s long story, compiled in a relatively short period of time, centers around his multifaceted life as a talented composer and arranger, accomplished instrumentalist, energetic dancer, inspirational teacher and electrifying performer. All of these roles have been enhanced by Chris’ work, over a period of eight years, with the National Ballet of Zimbabwe, the National Dance Company of Mozambique, Ballet Du Congo, Black Umfolosi (Zimbabwe’s internationally renown acapella group), as well as numerous groups of traditional dancers, drummers, and mbira players in Central and Southern Africa.

Currently, Chris divides his time between two continents, Africa and America.

While in Zimbabwe, Chris conforms to the popular culture by speaking fluent Shona and adhering to traditional Shona customs. In addition, he serves as a guide for Kunzwana, a Zimbabwean based, non-profit organization, “dedicated to the promotion and dissemination of work by performing artists and instrument makers in exchange for fair reward.” Throughout Africa, Chris is a respected mbira dzavadzimu player and is often employed as an equal partner with other master mbira players at mabria (ceremonies dedicated to calling on the ancestral spirits).

In the United States, Chris tours the country, teaching workshops, lecturing and performing individually as well as with his band, Panjea.

Fueled by an ever-growing passion for African culture, music and dance, the journey that began in 1982 continues to consume Chris Berry’s undived time and attention. According to Chris, “my journey is one that is best when shared with others.” Apparently all the people touched by Chris Berry’s life and work would agree.