Ari Pembele: Let's Rejoice

It is Irene Mawela's commanding and tender voice, coupled with her knack for melodic and story-rich songwriting, that makes her a true icon of South African music. She is best known for putting Tshivendalanguage music on the map in the 1960s, inspiring a generation of future musicians and collaborating with the likes of Ladysmith Black Mambazo. After a long hiatus, she now returns with the launch of a brand-new album, Ari Pembele: Let's Rejoice.

A fusion of mbaqanga music (a South African genre with Zulu roots), gospel, house and Afro-pop, this 13-track album takes the listener to a happy, playful and simple state of mind where swaying to the rhythm is the only option. Let's Rejoice comes sprinkled with all the right ingredients – powerful bass riffs, soulful guitar solos and big vocal harmonising – to make for a wholesome and truly African auditory experience. There is no doubt that Mawela's timeless music is deeply rooted in her hometown – Soweto. In ‘Ithemba Lami’ she sings, in Tshivenda: ‘I've seen the wonders of the world, but there is nothing like the place where I was born.’ It's an easy, feel-good album with Soweto-born guitar solos, steady drum beats and vibrant vocals, offering the listener a broad range of shebeen-stomping jives and lullaby-inspired melodies.