Chengdu-based Afro-fusion act Chisway returns with “Kolo,” a new record that pulls Mandarin and Pidgin into one playful space. The track is a single under the AFROCHIS imprint, and it runs just two minutes and twenty-eight seconds. Production credit goes to chb, while Chisway co-wrote the song with Zou Jiwei. “Kolo” is Nigerian slang for being on the mend, but here the word carries a different weight altogether. It points to being head over heels, and the record leans into that feeling without overthinking it.
The beat stays light and bouncy, so the Afrobeats drums keep a steady sway underneath. Chisway sings with an easy, flirty tone as the vocals slide between Mandarin, Pidgin and English. Because the chorus lands in Pidgin, Nigerian listeners will catch it fast. Meanwhile, the Mandarin verses add a new colour for everyone else. The song clocks in short, yet the melody stays smooth from start to finish.
Chisway is Chinese, and he has been building this blend across several songs. He moves between Pidgin, Mandarin and English while keeping the rhythm rooted in Afrobeats. From his earlier releases to records like “Kolo,” he keeps pushing how far the sound can travel.
What do you make of the language mix on this one? Drop your thoughts in the comment section below.
