Shakira Shakiraa and Winnie Nwagi are topping charts with their recently released collaboration ‘Nze Mpako’ and in an exclusive interview, the sultry singers have opened up on what it took to have them team up to work on this masterpiece.
Despite not having a close relationship, the two artists had earlier met while Shakira was still in the US. She was one of Nwagi’s top fans who always attended her shows when she visited.
They, however, did not have any contact until producer Nessim sold Shakira the idea of working with Winnie, noting that they had a lot in common.
Shakira Shakiraa had no way of reaching out to Nwagi until Ibra, a YouTuber, gave her the phone number. At first, she kept it for close to two weeks because she was scared of approaching her out of fear that she would turn down her request.
During one of her workout sessions in the gym, she got the confidence to call her and surprisingly she picked up and she told her about her desire for a collaboration.
“She was okay; I didn’t get what I used to hear from all the people that talked about her in the industry. The reception I got from her was totally very different from what people kept telling me. I told her my interests and she agreed; she gave me a collaboration with one heart,” Shakira said.
Nwagi and Shakira both had the desire to create something beautiful, so they hit the studio for a freestyle session alongside one of the top writers Dokta Brain who helped them put the lyrics together. They kept in touch and brainstormed ideas about how they wanted their project to run until they unanimously came to an agreement and got exactly what they dreamed of.
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Nwagi revealed that she agreed to collaborate with Shakira because she not only has a passion for music but is also a great performer.
“I welcomed her idea because she is such a sweet soul. I’m a shy girl and to open up to someone, we have to match energies. I was so free around her; in all our studio sessions, the video shoot, and everywhere that I was with her, I have never felt uncomfortable,” Nwagi noted.
Unlike other big artists who leave all the song promotion to the younger artists, Nwagi and Shakira are both pushing the song in the media with the same energy and Shakira is grateful to Nwagi for all her effort.
“Every time I see Winnie, I thank her because she proved so many people wrong. If a person makes me happy, there is a special way in which I appreciate in my own way,” Shakira revealed on paying Nwagi for the collaboration.
The video was shot and directed by Frank Jah of Jahlive and the audio was produced by Nessim Pan. The dance choreography was championed by top dancer Ritah Dancehall.
