Music : When Roars Of Ululation Fill The Air

In the hum of the world’s hurried beat, a simple, ancient sound has found its way to the surface. It is about a song that transcends the sterile boundaries of genre and language. A song of ululation - that shimmering, high-pitched vocal trill that speaks universally of profound joy, breakthrough, and the deepest form of human gratitude. In Limbum language, it is known as “Ngung ah laa” (“The sound of ululations has rung out”). For event organizers across the country, the song has become a quiet, irresistible anthem.
It spills from speakers in hushed religious halls and vibrant secular spaces alike. With the same resonant power, a testament to a message that needs no translation: give thanks. It is a melody crafted for the soul, a rhythm that coaxes reluctant feet onto dance floors. And draws strangers into a shared, wordless appreciation of simply being alive.
Behind this phenomenal single is Mangeh Justice Phil, known to the music world as Mukolah. A hip-hop artiste, Mukolah's breakthrough arrived through the deeply rooted soil of Njang traditional music. He describes his craft as a spiritual endeavor, guided by a hand greater than his own. “Music is spiritual and mostly guided by God Almighty,” Mukolah explains. His composition was no frantic burst of creativity; rather, it was a patient, almost devotional act that spanned 14 long months. The result was a track, polished at Demas Records and mastered by DJ Demasco. And featuring the warm, grounding embrace of Mr. Age’s acoustic guitar.
Mukolah speaks of his single not just as a song, but as a philosophy. “Ngung ah laa” is a banner of celebration and a declaration of a "wind of change." It is a reminder that eve...