BY SHARON SIBINDI
AUSTRIA-BASED Zimbabwean imbube singer Blessings Nqo Nkomo has roped in several international artistes across genres on his latest 15-track album Impilo Iyajika to be dropped today.
On the album, Nkomo featured Marema (Senegal) compatriots Vusa Mkhaya, Future Love and Nkwali Mamozi, Bibiane Zimba (Austria, Kenia) Karim Sanou, Djakali Kone (Burkina Faso) and Nikolaus Gruenbichler (Austria).
Nkomo, who is a member of Insingizi Emnyama group, told NewsDay Life & Style that the album touches on themes of self-confidence, love, respect and the concept of ubuntu.
“This is my fourth album, it was recorded during lockdown at my studio and at Bethline Studios in South Africa. It comprises songs in Ndebele, English and French. I will be releasing it with a video to one of my tracks,” he said.
“On instrumentals I engaged the skills of Mthabisi Moyo at Bethline Studios, who played and recorded all instruments except for the kora, talking drum and percussions.”
Nkomo said he expected the album to be a hit locally and abroad.
“My experiments with ethnocentric sounds are a true testimony of a musician who has been in the industry for close to three decades, with two of them having been on an international platform,” he said.
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“Tracks to look forward to, include the titled track Impilo Iyajika, Umendo, Richmen, Ungangitshiyi and Mama among other Afro-fused songs.”
Other albums under Nkomo’s sleeve are Isimanje Manje (2001), Nomathemba (2003) and Mbube and Gospel Music from Southern Africa (2009).
- Follow Sharon on Twitter @SibindiSharon
