Wakukaya

This is another fine example of how Scandinavian musicians are collaborating with African musicians in professional studio conditions and producing fascinating and highly enjoyable recordings. Andrew Ashimba is a Tanzanian singer-songwriter who combines East African traditions with pop sensibilities. He is a very good acoustic guitarist and has an expressive and pleasing voice. However, his indisputable talent benefits greatly from the accompaniment of five versatile jazz and rock musicians from Finland. Two of them – percussionist and multi¬instrumentalist Teho Majamaki and guitarist Jussi Jaakonaho – produced this album. The initial recordings were made in Bagomayo in Tanzania, where veteran taarab singer Bi Kidude joined them on two songs. Bi Kidude is a legend in East African coastal music circles and, whilst her aged voice may prove to be disconcerting to the uninitiated, it certainly lends an intriguing charm, in particular on the title-track. After laying down initial tracks, the sessions were switched to studios in Helsinki where full-band instrumentation was added.

There is a real mixture of styles and rhythms, and Ashimba demonstrates an ability to perform with ease across 14 songs, performed primarily in Swahili. He performs as adeptly on slow ballads that demonstrate his vocal sensitivity as he does on the uptempo songs that bounce with energy and enthusiasm.