CHIWONISO
Rebel Woman
(Cumbancha)
3/5
Zimbabwe’s been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons and this artist lives in the eye of the storm, watching her nation’s painful struggle. A devoted advocate of free speech, human rights and social justice, Chiwonso is offering messages of hope, inspiration and resistance on this, her first internationally released album in more than a decade. She draws on Western genres like R’n’B and reggae, but the Zimbabwean thumb piano – or mbira – underpins her music with deep historical and cultural symbolism. Meanwhile, she implores her countryfolk to hold fast against oppression yet creates music of deep beauty too. This is a masterful album from a singer who is not afraid to speak out. And in Zimbabwe at the moment, that’s a brave musician alright.
MAMA TOKUS
