Shiwezwa

This is a very impressive debut from a young singer born in Zambia, but raised in Switzerland, Kenya and Scotland. Namvula Rennie has gone back to her African roots and ancestral language, Lenje, for an album of self-composed songs about traditional values and the strength of African women. The album's title, Shiwezwa, is the name of the village where Namvula's great-grandmother lived, a priestess of rain. One of the most powerful songs, ‘Nsalamo’, is about her great-grandmother and an epic trek across the land. But this is a multicultural album and there are a few songs in English and French – although one of them, ‘Africa’, sounds like the sort of generic ‘sing out for Africa’ song that dozens of African artists have written. But Namvula has a warm, alto voice, and a strong stage presence, on the evidence of her recent album launch. And she's assembled a great band, featuring the nimble fingers of Osibisa guitarist Alfred Bannerman, the rich sax of Chris Williams and, on tracks such as ‘Maweo’, the kora of Kadialy Kouyaté. This isn’t the last we’ll hear of Namvula.