Berny prepares to release vernacular-powered single ‘Thabo’
Zambezi pride takes centre stage in Berny’s new anthem
The DJ KBoz-produced track is slated for release this Sunday across all major streaming platforms.
In a digital age where instant gratification reigns supreme, Berny, the genre-bending fashion designer and artist with roots from Namibia’s Zambezi Region, is choosing to take her time – carefully shaping each sonic offering. Now, after weeks of teasing and social media anticipation, she is ready to unveil her latest single – ‘Thabo' – produced by the celebrated DJ KBoz.
“It has been years in the making," Berny said during an exclusive sit-down with tjil.
“We recorded it in 2023. It was one of those moments where KBoz said: ‘I want to give this woman a shot, but I need to see if she can execute what I have in mind.’ He handed me the beat and asked me to come record the next day. It was a very straightforward process.”
The result is a track rooted not only in emotion but also in cultural defiance. ‘Thabo’ – which means “happiness” in several Southern African languages – rejects an age-old adage: that too much joy inevitably leads to sorrow.
“In the song, I challenge that belief,” Berny explained.
“I’m saying that in my world, happiness just means happiness. Full stop.”
This worldview is not just lyrical – it’s political. Berny is proudly vernacular, and her use of indigenous languages is deliberate and necessary.
“It’s about representation,” she said. “I am out here representing people of the Zambezi region. There aren’t many of us in the mainstream music and entertainment scene, so it’s about making sure people from home feel seen and heard.”
Still cooking
‘Thabo’ will be released this Sunday, 13 April, on all major streaming platforms, and it marks a turning point in Berny’s steadily building musical catalogue. Though she has released several singles over the past years, this track is part of a larger body of work that’s still in the works.
“I’m working on a mini album that I hope to release in the next three months,” she revealed. “I’m still cooking – there are a few more touches to add and two more singles to drop before I present the project as a whole. It’s all produced by KBoz.”
With ‘Thabo’, Berny is not only offering a song – she is asserting joy as a right, not a risk. In an industry often driven by trends, she’s charting a path shaped by authenticity, heritage, and an unapologetic embrace of happiness.
Commenting on working on the song, DJ KBoz shared that as a producer, he got tired of doing the same Afrobests Piano sound. “So, I went back to the drawing board. Then I came across Berny and boom! We found a sound we both loved and decided to pursue. Can't wait for you guys to hear her work. Amazing vocalist,” said DJ KBoz.
“It has been years in the making," Berny said during an exclusive sit-down with tjil.
“We recorded it in 2023. It was one of those moments where KBoz said: ‘I want to give this woman a shot, but I need to see if she can execute what I have in mind.’ He handed me the beat and asked me to come record the next day. It was a very straightforward process.”
The result is a track rooted not only in emotion but also in cultural defiance. ‘Thabo’ – which means “happiness” in several Southern African languages – rejects an age-old adage: that too much joy inevitably leads to sorrow.
“In the song, I challenge that belief,” Berny explained.
“I’m saying that in my world, happiness just means happiness. Full stop.”
This worldview is not just lyrical – it’s political. Berny is proudly vernacular, and her use of indigenous languages is deliberate and necessary.
“It’s about representation,” she said. “I am out here representing people of the Zambezi region. There aren’t many of us in the mainstream music and entertainment scene, so it’s about making sure people from home feel seen and heard.”
Still cooking
‘Thabo’ will be released this Sunday, 13 April, on all major streaming platforms, and it marks a turning point in Berny’s steadily building musical catalogue. Though she has released several singles over the past years, this track is part of a larger body of work that’s still in the works.
“I’m working on a mini album that I hope to release in the next three months,” she revealed. “I’m still cooking – there are a few more touches to add and two more singles to drop before I present the project as a whole. It’s all produced by KBoz.”
With ‘Thabo’, Berny is not only offering a song – she is asserting joy as a right, not a risk. In an industry often driven by trends, she’s charting a path shaped by authenticity, heritage, and an unapologetic embrace of happiness.
Commenting on working on the song, DJ KBoz shared that as a producer, he got tired of doing the same Afrobests Piano sound. “So, I went back to the drawing board. Then I came across Berny and boom! We found a sound we both loved and decided to pursue. Can't wait for you guys to hear her work. Amazing vocalist,” said DJ KBoz.
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