adminNkululeko Nkala . I was not even going to write about anything else other than afro soul sensation Berita Khumalo’s show last week but something got my attention.
I had all the flowery words and a rave review for Berita, but no, I will instead write about accapella sensation Nobuntu Music. What would I have said about Berita? I swear the world needs to watch that woman perform, she took Red Café on an amazing musical journey that got us singing along and eating out of her palm. She is huge in South Africa, she should be huge back home too.
Anyway, as I said I want to talk about Nobuntu. The five ladies are currently touring the United States of America and have tour dates that will make even top pop acts drool. But I am not here to talk about their tour.
The accapella group just released a scintillating album christened Obabes beMbube. One thing about the creative sector reviews are very important. They have made or crushed careers and products as far as the arts is concerned.
In the same way five-star hotels are not that many and cost an arm and a leg, a five-star arts review can be a start of bigger and better things.
Hence there are not that many five-star reviews. I personally have never given one, not even as a reference to amazing, but I am putting my head on the block and saying finally we have a five-star album.
I have listened to albums before, nice ones for that matter. This album is the true meaning of three times is a charm.
This is the third offering from the ladies and they got it right.
All the 13 tracks on the album are meant to be there, although my final choice for best tracks would be Amazing Grace, Avumile , Obabes beMbube , Cula and Nobuntu Click Song.
From the start of the album with Cula which is pretty much an encouragement song with a catchy tune one knows they are in for a treat. The album touches on love, life, praise and appreciation. I noticed also that even the slow emotional songs also have a catchy tune.
As someone that grew up in imbube circles there was always that style of true art that we used to laugh at. Nobuntu do it and they just do it better. They are like a refined Lady Smith Black Mambazo who do not just have amazing harmonies but a style that music lovers across genres will appreciate. Imbube is a call and response kind of music with usually just the one lead vocalist and the backing vocals.
Nobuntu inter change lead vocalists making the album very rich. After listening to Amazing Grace I was left convinced that one can copy/borrow and make something better. I visualised the slaves going through the emotions and also saw them dance through Nobuntu Music.
The other songs in the album are Ilanga, Umusa, Uyangiphoxa, Hosanna , Asambeni , Silele , Umalusi and Town Hall, a bonus track by Mahotela Queens re-arranged by Nobuntu. In a nutshell if you do not listen to Nobuntu you watch on CD.
This CD is a must have. The ladies deserve all the good happening to/for them. The album is produced by 10th District and is of high quality.
Until next week, be safe @nkuenkala 0772214373
derick.khumalo