Online Reporter
LAST year, Mokoomba released their album, “Tusona: Tracings in the Sand.
The album pays homage to the Luvale tradition of using signs and symbols drawn in the sand during initiation ceremonies.
It represents Mokoomba’s artistic growth and reflects their collective experiences over the years, forging a distinctive musical identity.
The album is a testament to Africa’s guitar band heritage and disproves the notion that Africa’s musical output is solely producer-based.
Mokoomba’s music resonates with the heartbeat and rhythm of a community connected through their music, serving as a source of rejuvenation, resilience, and strength in these changing times.
What caught the eye was how the world reacted to the album.
Here are the views of some major players in the global musical industry:
SONGLINES
“Mokoomba are back at last, six years on from their last album Luyando and ten years after winning a Songlines Newcomers Award at the start of their international career. Since then, this band of former school friends from Chinotimba Township, Victoria Falls, on Zimbabwe’s northern borders have revived the spirit of their country’s musical glory days, back in the 80s, with their fusion of Tonga rhythms, soca, soukous ‘and other things we listened to… growing up.’ And they are on rousing, classic form on this no-nonsense, self-produced set of ten new songs plus three new upbeat versions of tracks from Luyando. The opening ‘Tamvela Mama’ sets the mood with its blend of tight, rippling guitar and bass work, keyboard lines that sound like brass parts, urgent vocals from Mathias Muzaza and slick backing vocals. This is joyful dance music for a hot summer’s night, even though they are singing about greedy relatives on ‘Nzara Hapana’, or pleading for rain on ‘Nyansola’. Elsewhere they slow down for ‘Manina’, a lament for a loved one lost during the pandemic (featuring Harare singer Ulethu and lyrics in English), and there’s fine vocal work on ‘Kandonga’, a celebration of a beer-hall gathering with backing provided by handclaps and percussion. They should be brilliant at WOMAD.”
THE GUARDIAN
“This third album affirms their savvy mix of spirituality and exuberance.”
THE FINANCIAL TIMES ON THE GROUP’S PERFORMANCE AT WOMAD
“Mokoomba, Victoria Falls’s finest musical export, staked their claim as future headliners. The Zimbabwean group opened with a brooding ‘Masangango’, matching the gathering clouds. Trustworth Samende snapped a guitar string and Abundance Mutori filled in with a dub-heavy bass vamp until Samende was ready to unleash the band’s trademark mix of jit and zamrock. By the end, as ‘Welelye’ segued into ‘Africa’, the crowd were dancing and shouting amid the raindrops.” – H-Metro Reporter/Mokoomba
