Child of Independence

Opening track ‘Yebo’ sets the pace: bursting with warmth, vibrant and upbeat, it proves Thab ani N yo ni is a bright new force on the African music scene. The acoustic instrumentation is infectious enough but it’s Nyoni’s voice that grabs you first; tremulous and confident, it soars and swoops with a real sense of purpose. His father sang in an all-male Zulu choir, and Nyoni grew up singing in the church, and for various bands, until striking out with his own material. His 2007 debut Mind is a Rebel was an exercise in Afro-funk that marked him out as a name to watch. The Zimbabwe-born Nyoni incorporates the bright rippling rhythms of his birthplace into his progressive sound, just as he tackles the country’s darker political realities in his lyrics. And, having lived in London since the age of five, the 30-something Nyoni knows a thing or two about cultural identity struggles. Child of Independence is dedicated to his mother and the album’s African influence is prouder and more prominent than anything you’ll find on its predecessor.

It may only be 36 minutes long, with just nine tracks, but the highlights are numerous: ‘Nkosi’ is a rollicking vocal journey dotted with Afro-beat horns and female call-and-response vocals. The title-track, with its delicately picked acoustic guitar, is as lovely as it is poignant. Lyrics in English and Zulu deal with the duality of Nyoni’s ex-pat life and his love for his mum. Delightful, soulful stuff.