Nsimbi

This is a collection of songs based on Swahili proverbs and performed by Ugandan-American duo Nsimbi. GNL Zamba is a Ugandan storyteller and hip-hop MC, and his partner Miriam Tamar is an established American singer-songwriter. Zamba achieved fame in Uganda as a ‘ghetto storyteller,’ with his rap influenced by American and African rap pioneers. There is an attractive contrast to their voices, as Zamba sing-talks his lyrics and stories in Luganda, Lingala and Swahili languages while Miriam Tamar's very silky pop voice weaves around the songs sung primarily in English.

The instrumentation is performed, arranged and produced by just two musicians: Congolese-born guitarist and singer Jaja Bashengezi and Ugandan Herbert Kinobe. Between them they play an array of traditional instruments, bowed, plucked and struck. Kora,ngoni, adungu (lyre), balafon, likembé and various percussion instruments are interspersed with acoustic and fluid electric guitar. This very gentle but rhythmically diverse album reaps a multitude of rewards – it is both musically and lyrically uplifting.