Songs on the album include Yebo, Nkosi, Snakes in the grass and Child of Independence, among others.
Thabani Nyoni was born in Bulawayo. His mother moved to the UK when he was five but African music was very much part of Thabanis upbringing. His father was a singer in a band called Amabutho, an all male harmony choir with a repertoire sung in Zulu. The band performed internationally alongside major western acts. Thabani joined the church choir as a teenager and sang for various bands until he decided to form his own to perform his material, essentially soul music
Thabani released his first album Mind is a rebel in 2007 and toured UK universities, Europe, US and Japan clubs. Although the first album was very much Soul music in style and spirit, it already featured African influences. The African influence is more prominent on Child of Independence; its acoustic instrumentation helping the artist to make it a personal journey with surges of childhood memories.
It is an African influenced album and it was recorded with a cast of European and African performers. The tracks really reflect my history. I was born in Zimbabwe and I am proud of my heritage, said Thabani.
According to Shareeha Asante from BBC Radio 3s show, “The Late Junction”, This music has an infectious soulful groove which also retains rhythms and spirit of Africa.
For more information visit www.myspace.com/thabani
Post published in: Music