Black Umfolosi - Summertime: Best Of Black Umfolosi

Published Tuesday 21st August 2012
Black Umfolosi - Summertime: Best Of Black Umfolosi
Black Umfolosi - Summertime: Best Of Black Umfolosi

STYLE: World
RATING 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8
OUR PRODUCT CODE: 127795-19389
LABEL: ARC 20
FORMAT: CD Album
ITEMS: 1

Reviewed by Gareth Hills

If you are familiar with Zimbabwean music you'll know Black Umfolosi, who have been touring the world for 30 years. The group's style is Imbube (township acappella), draws heavily from their own Ndebele culture and is described by the members as being a "vocal newspaper". The sonic tapestry the group manage to weave using only their voices manages to be both very soothing and yet challenging - you could probably put their music on in the background only to find yourself drawn into it. The opener, "Summertime" is an absolute masterpiece of vocal orchestration that manages to achieve that tricky balance of relentlessly positive subject matter without sounding contrived. Each performance is absolutely wonderful and their songs cover issues as diverse as AIDS and global warming, as well as traditional Ndebele songs. "No more going back to the darkness" - the refrain that ends the album's closer "Yes Lord" - sums up this remarkable group and their ongoing pursuit to create a better world through participation in and education through music.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

Interested in reviewing music? Find out more here.

Be the first to comment on this article

We welcome your opinions but libellous and abusive comments are not allowed.












We are committed to protecting your privacy. By clicking 'Send comment' you consent to Cross Rhythms storing and processing your personal data. For more information about how we care for your data please see our privacy policy.