Album Review: Mokoomba - Luyando
Mokoomba is my favourite local band, they know how to give a memorable performance every-time they get on stage. Their music definitely takes time for one to appreciate, but when it grows on you it sticks and its that type of music you know will not get boring or generic anytime soon due to its uniqueness. Have been enjoying their last album Rising Tide (2012) for years now and a new album was most welcome, to be honest it was the album I was anticipating the most in 2017 (10 Albums That I Am Looking Forward To In 2017 ).
The album was launched on the 24th of March and I attended the launch with a couple of friends. The launch was simple, classy and all about the music, there were no boring speeches or MC's who try to make funny jokes on stage, no VVIP's, everyone felt equally special and to cap it all the band delivered a superb performance. Bought my copy of the album and after some time listening to the album, will now be sharing my views and thoughts on the album.
The album was launched on the 24th of March and I attended the launch with a couple of friends. The launch was simple, classy and all about the music, there were no boring speeches or MC's who try to make funny jokes on stage, no VVIP's, everyone felt equally special and to cap it all the band delivered a superb performance. Bought my copy of the album and after some time listening to the album, will now be sharing my views and thoughts on the album.
The album contains 10 tracks and will be doing a track by track review.
1. Mokole
This song is about honouring the Victoria falls for it's beauty and for the benefits it brings to the people who live around it. Water is the source of life and the people who inhabit the area surrounding Victoria Falls benefit from the sustenance brought about by the water that passes through the falls so they performed rituals honouring the mighty falls. They celebrate with dancing and singing in appreciation of the water, beauty and life that is availed to them.
The production is done very well on this track. The guitar work is sublime and it ushers you into the track and keeps you engaged throughout the track. Mathias was superb on the vocals and the backing vocalists were also up to par. Love how they incorporated all the languages that are spoken by the people who inhabit the area surrounding the falls (Luvale, Ndebele, Tonga, Chewa...etc) into the song.
The production is done very well on this track. The guitar work is sublime and it ushers you into the track and keeps you engaged throughout the track. Mathias was superb on the vocals and the backing vocalists were also up to par. Love how they incorporated all the languages that are spoken by the people who inhabit the area surrounding the falls (Luvale, Ndebele, Tonga, Chewa...etc) into the song.
2. Kulindiswe
The track is describes how the group misses home during their many tours performing all around the world. It a track for those who spend most of their time away from home, away from their loved ones due to work, due to the desire to create something for their families.
Love the rhumba/salsa kind of feel on this track. The guitar work is again sublime, the hosho, African drum and vocals are all on point. The track has this infectious rhythm and allure to it which I cannot resist. It's one of the tracks I have been abusing these past couple of weeks.
Love the rhumba/salsa kind of feel on this track. The guitar work is again sublime, the hosho, African drum and vocals are all on point. The track has this infectious rhythm and allure to it which I cannot resist. It's one of the tracks I have been abusing these past couple of weeks.
3. Kuma Kanda
This was the first song I heard from the album, they performed it on Radio KEXP in 2016 and I just fell in love with it. The heavenly guitar work is just irresistible, it ushers you into the track and serenades you till the end. The percussions, Cajon add a lovely traditional vibe to the track. Mathias is superb on the vocals, his vocal range and dynamism is just jaw-dropping and the backing vocals are on point.
The track talks about the Tonga culture whereby for a boy to become a man he must be initiated by the elders at a secret location deep in the forest. There he is taught life skills, cultural norms and the values of their people so that they will able to provide for their future families and lead them in a respectable way without losing their identity and without diluting their beliefs. It also stresses the importance of respecting the privacy of the process; the location of the camp and rituals, safeguarding the culture.
The track talks about the Tonga culture whereby for a boy to become a man he must be initiated by the elders at a secret location deep in the forest. There he is taught life skills, cultural norms and the values of their people so that they will able to provide for their future families and lead them in a respectable way without losing their identity and without diluting their beliefs. It also stresses the importance of respecting the privacy of the process; the location of the camp and rituals, safeguarding the culture.
4. Luyando
This is a dedication to all mothers, it's about thanking and appreciating one's mother for the amazing job they have done raising you since you were a little child to the man/woman that you are today. The love, care, support she provided for you.
The track is well produced, it's stripped down to the bare minimum which makes the sound so clean and clear and that provides a perfect platform for Mathias's amazing vocals and the equally superb backing vocals. The guitar work is done superbly well and the African drum gives it a down to earth traditional feel.
The track is well produced, it's stripped down to the bare minimum which makes the sound so clean and clear and that provides a perfect platform for Mathias's amazing vocals and the equally superb backing vocals. The guitar work is done superbly well and the African drum gives it a down to earth traditional feel.
5. Kambowa
This song is about an orphan who is in search of his parents. He was found whilst he was a little lost boy and the village adopted him as theirs but now he seeks to find his mother, he has walked and searched as far as he can in search of his mother to no avail and he is now losing hope of ever finding them. The village elders who found him can not help as they found him when he was lost and never met his parents.
The production is done quite well, the song adopted that around the fire kind of sound and feel, whereby the people in a village are sitting around a born-fire exchanging stories. Now when it comes to the story of an orphan raised by the village who when all grown up starts to look for his parents, they love to tell the story through song. So one guy leads the singing, the whole village acts as backing vocals whilst clapping, one guy is playing the drums and another on a flute. It's a unique production and it's sounding very refreshing and good.
The production is done quite well, the song adopted that around the fire kind of sound and feel, whereby the people in a village are sitting around a born-fire exchanging stories. Now when it comes to the story of an orphan raised by the village who when all grown up starts to look for his parents, they love to tell the story through song. So one guy leads the singing, the whole village acts as backing vocals whilst clapping, one guy is playing the drums and another on a flute. It's a unique production and it's sounding very refreshing and good.
6. Njawane
This track serves as a warning and instruction to the men who will be going hunting, it reminding them that they must be aware for there are also predators in the forest. Whenever one is faced with a lion you must not run but look it straight in the eye and back up slowly. In other words the track is urging people to be careful, because wherever you may be trying to provide for your family there are also predators there, so be brave know how to deal with the predators that you may face and if you do so you will succeed.
The track is fast paced, the rhythm and structure is borrowed from the Chewa masqurade gule (zvigure). The guitar work as usual is done very very well. The vocals match the instrumental well, this is a high energy track, probably depicting the fast heartbeat and tension that hunters will be experiencing in the forest, adrenaline pumping in full force and the vocals did well to bring out that energy. Did not know much about the Cajon before but hearing how well it is implemented on this project i'm now a fan of the instrument, Donald is doing one hell of a job on that instrument. Have never been a fan of the zvigure sound however this song pushed to have some minor toleration towards the sound, still not that huge a fan of the zvigure sound but this song I can listen and dance to.
The track is fast paced, the rhythm and structure is borrowed from the Chewa masqurade gule (zvigure). The guitar work as usual is done very very well. The vocals match the instrumental well, this is a high energy track, probably depicting the fast heartbeat and tension that hunters will be experiencing in the forest, adrenaline pumping in full force and the vocals did well to bring out that energy. Did not know much about the Cajon before but hearing how well it is implemented on this project i'm now a fan of the instrument, Donald is doing one hell of a job on that instrument. Have never been a fan of the zvigure sound however this song pushed to have some minor toleration towards the sound, still not that huge a fan of the zvigure sound but this song I can listen and dance to.
7. Muzwile
This song is about caring for each other as a community. The Tonga people put a lot of importance in customary practices, such as greeting and inquiring about the well-being of those around you. The culture urges people to greet each other whenever they meet, making everyone feel loved, welcomed and cared for.
Love love and love the guitar work on this track, it reminds me of songs that used to play on Afro Beat way back, those Salif Keita, Ismael Lo kind of tracks. That guitar work from 00:15 - 00:30 is a slice of heaven and the slap guitar in the last half of the track is just amazing. Mathias again shows how dynamic and strong his vocals are. The production is done to near perfection, all the instruments are on point and sounding as they should
Love love and love the guitar work on this track, it reminds me of songs that used to play on Afro Beat way back, those Salif Keita, Ismael Lo kind of tracks. That guitar work from 00:15 - 00:30 is a slice of heaven and the slap guitar in the last half of the track is just amazing. Mathias again shows how dynamic and strong his vocals are. The production is done to near perfection, all the instruments are on point and sounding as they should
8. Vimbe
After the men return from the initiation camp the whole village is invited to the graduation ceremony where the graduates are all invited to showcase their dancing skills which they would have learnt at the initiation camp. When your name is called you go to the center and do the Kalumutengenya dance.
The track only has a these stick like sounding instruments which I believe is imitating the clapping sound that the people will be doing as they sing along. The vocals are controlling the pace and feel of the song, both the lead and backing vocals are done well. However nearly every-time I listen to this track in the back my mind I keep on expecting the drum to start and it never does.
The track only has a these stick like sounding instruments which I believe is imitating the clapping sound that the people will be doing as they sing along. The vocals are controlling the pace and feel of the song, both the lead and backing vocals are done well. However nearly every-time I listen to this track in the back my mind I keep on expecting the drum to start and it never does.
9. Mabemba
The track is highlighting how the Tonga people empowered and valued their women, how their society viewed them as equals. In the years gone by, the men would go in the forest to hunt and they would come back to find out that the women had already prepared something for them. The women despite not going into the forest to hunt proved they were equally capable of providing food for their families. So when the men return sometimes empty handed they find out that a meal has already been prepared for them so they humble themselves and thank their wives for the meal. They have been in the forest for days without food so they are grateful for the meal and they ask the women to come join them.
This is an powerful track, the instrumental is stripped down which allow the vocals to lead the way. The guitar work is clean and also as passionate as the theme implies. The band is assuming the role of the men who have returned from days hunting in the forest, they humble themselves before the women show their appreciation for the work they have done in their absence and how they have remembered them with the meal they have prepared. The track urges men to appreciate the efforts of their wives, mothers, sisters and view them as equals.
This is an powerful track, the instrumental is stripped down which allow the vocals to lead the way. The guitar work is clean and also as passionate as the theme implies. The band is assuming the role of the men who have returned from days hunting in the forest, they humble themselves before the women show their appreciation for the work they have done in their absence and how they have remembered them with the meal they have prepared. The track urges men to appreciate the efforts of their wives, mothers, sisters and view them as equals.
10. Nyaradzo
This track is about traditional courtship, a young boy has fallen for Nyaradzo a girl from the other side of the mountain and believes she is his true love. So after some time of talking they are planning to have formal introductions so that they can plan about marriage.
They chose to go the acappela route on this track and it was the right move because they nailed it. The Mbube style was executed very well, the vocals blended perfectly. The style is proven, it will get you dancing and singing along in no time, its irresistible.
They chose to go the acappela route on this track and it was the right move because they nailed it. The Mbube style was executed very well, the vocals blended perfectly. The style is proven, it will get you dancing and singing along in no time, its irresistible.
In overall this is brilliant album, the production is just done very good, the instrumental arrangement throughout the album is superb, no track is like the other and that makes it refreshing to listen to. Mathias's vocals are just jaw dropping, I have failed to think of anyone in Zim who can produce such a dynamic and strong vocal performance. The backing vocals are also well polished and up to par whenever they are called upon. Then there is the guitar work, ohhh GOOD LORD!! Fantastic. Trust Samende showed why he is regarded by many as the best guitarist in Zim, he is amazing throughout. Abundance is very solid performance on the bass. Miti and Ndaba are awesome on the percussions and hosho, they gave the album a serious traditional feel. Donald delivered a sublime performance on the mbira and cajon (one of the most overlooked instruments). The reason this band gets to be this amazing is down to the way they complement each other, ya many may rush to mention Mathias or Trust but the magic comes out when they collectively work together.
The album concentrates on the culture of the Tonga people. It's a beautiful audio painting of the Tonga culture, beliefs and practices. After listening to the album (and reading the included booklet which translates the songs) one will have more understanding and appreciation of the Tonga people and culture. Moreover although the album focuses on the Tonga people there are certain practices, and perceptions that can be applied or adopted everywhere else. Practices such as; caring for people in your community(Muzwile), empowering and appreciating women (Mabemba). Then tracks such as Kulindiswe, Njawane, Nyaradzo, Kambowa & Luyando speaks about issues that everyone can relate to regardless of background. So despite concentrating on the Tonga People it's an album for everyone. This is a must have album, I highly recommend it, the best Zim has to offer at the moment.
My overall Rating: A,
Buy The Album:
Mokoomba - Luyando on iTunes
Mokoomba - Luyando on Bandcamp
Mokoomba - Luyando on Amzon
What are your thoughts on the album???
Proud_Zimbo
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