Kukaya Bili

An exceptional recording of traditional ‘trance’ music in the northern Malawi vimbuza style. The seven tracks are examples of healing trance ritual, charms against evil, love potions, or charms related to Malawian dances. Kukaya are a drum and vocal ensemble led by Emmanuel Mlonga Ngwira. Although they perform a traditional style of music, the group leader has acknowledged influence from electronic music and jazz. The group performs with three drums, shaker, whistle, cowbell and a mix of male/female call-and-response vocals driven along by a persistent hand-clap rhythm. Recorded ‘in the field’ in the suburbs of the northern Malawian city of Mzuzu, this album magnificently captures the intense musicality of the ritualistic performance: infectious melodies with a metronomic click rhythm from the hand claps and great energy and atmosphere. It is all reminiscent of the percussive Congolese trance-dance phenomenon of the various Swede-Swede groups.

This astonishing second recording is supplied in an equally striking and unique package – a silver foil resealable pouch with tip-on artwork – though it is also available digitally.