Ilanga (The Sun)

Afrika Mamas' striking new album connects listeners to the roots of Zulu culture. The six female singers who make up the Afrika Mamas intricately reveal the folk stories of everyday life with a remarkable vocal range of harmonic a cappella singing. Co-produced by Xolani Majozi of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, this markedly energetic album is a celebration of isicathamiya, the Zulu genre that combines a cappella, call-and-response, Christian choral singing and theatrical performance.

Nomvula Dlamini's powerfully matriarchal lead vocals beautifully thread through the album, complemented by soothing choral responses that evoke the feeling of sitting around a shared campfire. The ten lively songs here cover a remarkable variety of themes, ranging from celebratory to macabre. One of the many highlights is ‘Wangishiyelani’, which seamlessly combines celebratory choral singing and ululating with laidback bluesy drawls. It tells of a groom who invites his bride to join his family to eat from a big pot of food that will ensure their ongoing sustenance. After 20 years of creating music together and performing around the world, Afrika Mamas encapsulate the spirit of sisterhood and ubuntu (oneness) with this uplifting, insightful and memorable album.