Tusona: Tracings in the Sand

Mokoomba are back at last, six years on from their last album Luyando and ten years after winning a Songlines Newcomers Award at the start of their international career. Since then, this band of former school friends from Chinotimba Township, Victoria Falls, on Zimbabwe's northern borders have revived the spirit of their country's musical glory days, back in the 80s, with their fusion of Tonga rhythms, soca, soukous “and other things we listened to… growing up.” And they are on rousing, classic form on this no-nonsense, self-produced set of ten new songs plus three new upbeat versions of tracks from Luyando. The opening ‘Tamvela Mama’ sets the mood with its blend of tight, rippling guitar and bass work, keyboard lines that sound like brass parts, urgent vocals from Mathias Muzaza and slick backing vocals. This is joyful dance music for a hot summer's night, even though they are singing about greedy relatives on ‘Nzara Hapana’, or pleading for rain on ‘Nyansola’. Elsewhere they slow down for ‘Manina’, a lament for a loved one lost during the pandemic (featuring Harare singer Ulethu and lyrics in English), and there's fine vocal work on ‘Kandonga’, a celebration of a beer-hall gathering with backing provided by handclaps and percussion. They should be brilliant at WOMAD.