Spirit (Kwesta song)

2017 single by Kwesta featuring Wale

"Spirit"

Single by Kwesta featuring Wale
Released| 12 October 2017 (2017-10-12)
Recorded| 2017
Genre|

* Hip-hop
* Kwaito

Length| 4:13
Label|

* Sony Music Entertainment Africa
* Urbantainment

Songwriter(s)|

* Senzo Mfundo Vilakazi
* Olubowale Victor Akintimehin
* Neo Makwa
* Daniel Keith Jones
* Richard Anthony Earnshaw
* Mark Bamford[1][2][3][4]

Producer(s)| Makwa 6eats
Kwesta singles chronology
| "Ngud'"
(2016)  | "Spirit"
(2017)  | "Diamonds and Gold"
(2018)

|
|

Wale singles chronology
| "Saint Laurent"
(2017)  | "Spirit"
(2017)  | "Staying Power"
(2018)

|
|

Music video
"Spirit" on YouTube

"Spirit" is a single by South African rapper Kwesta featuring American rapper Wale, released on October 12, 2017 through Sony and Urbantainment.[5][6][7] The song was written by Kwesta, Wale, and Makwa who also handled the production.

The song was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry of South Africa.[8][9][10][11]

## Composition

[edit]

"Spirit" samples the 2011 South African number 1 hit record "These Tears" [12][13][14] as performed and written by South African House group Spiritchaser.[15]

## Music video

[edit]

The music video was released on Kwesta's Vevo account on 11 January 2018. It was directed by Skeem Saam's director Tebogo Malope in Katlehong, Ekurhuleni, Kwesta's birthplace. The video shows Kwesta and Wale performing to a crowd of fans, driving in a Lamborghini in a tunnel and popping alcoholic beverages.[16]

IOL wrote:

> The music video showcases real people in the township with beautiful cinematography by the director and brilliant editing of said images.[17]

The music video features a cameo by American rapper, singer-songwriter, and record producer, Jidenna and Ekurhuleni mayor Mzwandile Masina.[18][19]

## Charts

[edit]

Chart (2017)  | Peak
position

|

South Africa (EMA)  | 1

## Accolades

[edit]

"Spirit" was nominated at 2018 DStv Mzansi Viewers' Choice Awards.[20]

Year  | Nominee / work  | Award  | Result

|
|
|

2018  | "Spirit"  | Favourite Song Of the Year  | Nominated

## Certifications

[edit]

Region  | Certification | Certified units/sales

|
|

South Africa (RISA)[21] | Platinum  | 20,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.

## Release history

[edit]

Country  | Date  | Version  | Label  | Ref.

|
|
|
|

South Africa  | October 12, 2017  | Original  |  | [22]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Spirit (feat. Wale) - Kwesta | Lyrics, Live, Songs, Tour". VIBBIDI.
2. ^ "Spiritchaser, Est8 - These Tears - Remastered". www.traxsource.com.
3. ^ "News". Kinetic Music Group.
4. ^ "BMW South Africa Responds to Using Kwesta's Song Without Permission on Latest Advert". OkayAfrica. 22 September 2020.
5. ^ "Hear Kwesta and Wale's New Song, 'Spirit'". Okay Africa. Damola Durosomo. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
6. ^ "We Can't Get Over Kwesta's New Single With Wale -- Even Celebrities Are With Us". TheHuffingtonPost. Duenna Mambana. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
7. ^ "Kwesta drops hit single Spirit in collaboration with US rapper Wale". SowetanLive. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
8. ^ "Kwesta and Wale go platinum in SA". channel24. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
9. ^ "@KwestaDaKAR #Spirit Has Gone Platinum!". SlikourOnLife. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
10. ^ "Kwesta's #Spirit goes platinum". SA Breaking News. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
11. ^ "Kwesta's 'Spirit' Single Hits 'Platinum'". Hype Magazine. 27 November 2017. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
12. ^ "BMW South Africa Responds to Using Kwesta's Song Without Permission on Latest Advert". OkayAfrica. 22 September 2020. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
13. ^ "Ringer" It Just Got Normal (TV Episode 2012) - IMDb, retrieved 18 August 2020
14. ^ "Beyond Drake: We Asked 12 Tastemakers Around the World About Their Country's Song of the Summer". Billboard. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
15. ^ "10 popular 2017 tracks that have sampled others". Y World. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
16. ^ "WATCH: Kwesta's 'Spirit' video tells a true story about our culture and the people". YoMzansi. 12 January 2018. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
17. ^ "WATCH: Kwesta releases imagery filled #SpiritMusicVideo". IOL. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
18. ^ "WATCH: Kwesta's Spirit music video is a love letter to South Africa". channel24. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
19. ^ "Watch: Kwesta's Spirit music video is golden trophy for South Africa!". Entertainment SA. 12 January 2018. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
20. ^ "Mzansi Viewers' Choice Awards - the full list of nominees". Sowetan LIVE. 14 August 2018.
21. ^ "South Africa certifications". Recording Industry of South Africa. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
22. ^ "Spirit (feat. Wale) - Single by Kwesta on Apple Music". Apple Music. 12 October 2017.

## External links

[edit]

* Music video on YouTube

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz release group

|

*[Ref.]: Reference