Feli Nandi - Ndisiyei Album Review

Feli has taken the music industry by storm, she has grown so much over the past 5 years. Fortunately for here there was a big gap for a female artist with a mature sound and she came and filled that gap in a massive way. Currently if you are planning a big event Feli will among the first names on that list, her brand has exploded. Another aspect that has made Feli a big name as she is now is that she is very good performer, you will not regret attending any of her shows. 

Since she went solo it has been an upward trajectory for Feli, her debut album Izwi was a superb offering, did a review of the album and was greatly impressed and hopes are high for this follow up. On her first album she was an upcoming artists and this one comes as she has solidified her position as the biggest female artists in the nation. The expectations are now many and the question is will she deliver??!.

Have managed to listen to the album a couple of times and will now be sharing my views and thoughts on the album.

1. Tongai

On the first track she is saying take over Creator, you alone can make things okay for there has been many wrongs done by those who came before that brought curses upon the bloodline and its now nearly impossible to correct those actions. 

2. Munamato

She follows up with a prayer, pouring our her life unto the Creator, thanking Him for the chance and opportunity that has been availed to her, asking for protection, strength and favour. She also shares her pain and struggles on this journey that she is on. Production is done well, the Mbira is just a magical instrument, you can feel it as you listen to this track. The track reminds me of Izwi from the her debut album.

3. Ndisiyei

The title track of the album is about separating yourself from the stress, pressure and drama that comes from those close to you. Sometimes you find out that when bad things are said about you, there is someone close to you leading it, those close to you wait for your demise so she is saying leave me to live my life the way I want, please don't intervene. 

4. Ahungasiye

Feli is giving hope to those who feel there is nothing to live for anymore, those who may be going through so much stress and pain which makes them think ending their life is the only option. She is saying it shall pass, be thoughtful of those who love you, be thoughtful of all those who look up to you you cannot leave them alone. This is fitting track in an era where depression is rampant, knowing you matter to some people, you are valued as imperfect as you are you are still valued. 

5. Kukoromoka

She switched up the tempo on this track, going for a afro house/amapiano arrangement and it works to add the energy the theme of the track needs. Feli is singing about accepting that in life you shall fall and fail many times but you should dust yourself up and rise up each time till you have reached your destination. Life is hard most of the time, you should not fight that fact but create mindset that helps you find strength in those dark moments. 

6. Muranda

On this track Feli is saying to her partner that I am ready to submit fully and be your helper/support till the end of time. This is a powerful declaration of love from Feli Nandi and is definitely going to be a favourite of many mature ladies who are crazy in love. The production is done well, a relaxed vibe that fits the theme well. 

7. Shamwari

If you get to be fortunate in life you get surrounded by friends who understand you and stick by you through all phases, those friends who become closer than family (hushamwari hunokunda hukana). She is celebrating having such friends in one's life, its a true blessing from the Creator above to be united with such friends. As you grow older you get to understand the value of true friendship and you get to cherish it more and for a popular figure like Feli true friends become more rare and special. A true friendship can help you through the toughest of periods. Production is done well. 

8. Famba Neni

Feli is expressing the support that she needs from her partner, she wants him to be a rock by her side, provide a solid foundation for her life. This is definitely you feel Feli would feel as a public figure with big dreams, she needs a man who can stand firm by her side, who is understanding and supportive. Production is done well and Feli was solid on the vocals. 

9. Vakaita Sewe

The last track on the album is about accepting loss of a loved one. Life is fragile and can end at any time and the loved ones who remain will be in a loot of pain and for many they will find comfort in the thought that you are now in a better place with the Creator, a place for special people like you (Vakaita Sewe).

So ya that's it for Feli Nandi's second album Ndisiyei and its a fitting follow up to Izwi. It has all the elements we have come to love from Feli albeit with some more maturity and confidence. 

One thing that has made Feli stand out is how she embraces being a vulnerable in love, she is sincere in her depiction of a perfect relationship, its so raw and beautiful. Muranda is a perfect example of this, in this day and age a woman openly submitting to her man, accepting that she'll be his servant and vowing to support him is something that is now shunned upon publicly because of these feminist equality movements but its something many women desired privately. Feli has managed to be that voice which sings about those deep desires and she is loved for that. Her tracks such as Ndoona Iwe, Muranda, Munhu Wangu, Famba Neni, Hossana are good examples of that. On top of the love themes she also gets deep into other themes such as dealing with family curses on the track Tongai, handling family drama on Ndisiyei, real friendship on Shamwari, overcoming depression on Ahungasiye, overcoming failures in Koromoka, accepting loss on the track Vakaita Sewe and she also delivers a powerful prayer on Munamato.

The production is done very well,  most tracks fit into the afro fusion category that we have come to expect from Feli. The tracks are well arranged, listening to to this album alongside the last album you feel she is on the same trajectory that she was. The template is similar, if its not broken don't fix it. Another impressive thing is Feli is taking advantage of out traditional instruments, ngoma, hosho and mbira and you can never go wrong when you use those three instruments. They also deliver a fusion only a Zim artists can deliver and when targeting the international market you will be among the first picks. 

To conclude I have to say it has been a joy listening to this album, had a lot of expectations going into this album, I believe many did to given her position in the music industry and she has delivered. This project will push her brand even higher, its follows up on the last album well and goes further than the first project. Many artists falter when following up on strong debuts and Feli is not one of them. This project is a better project as compared to Izwi, Feli and team deserve an applause for the good job they have done here. Izwi the track is still my favourite from her though, that track does speaks to me on a different level. Lastly Feli is leveraging her brand very well, she is into fashion (she designs her own outfits) and also opened a tradition food restaurant KwaFeli, you have to respect the moves she is making.

This is the best project of 2025 so far, we'll see as the year moves if there are any projects that may surpass Ndisiyei!!!! Jah Prayzah's Ndini Mukudzei album that is coming in a month's time may be that project, but lets wait and see (Hatiyeri nyoka negavi) or it will be some other project from the many talented artists we have, we'll see.

My Overall Rating: 8.5/10

Feel free to share your thoughts on the album.

Proud_Zimbo