Mpopoma Dance Ensemble - Dance, Choreography and Drumming from Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

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Laduma

Laduma in the Ndebele language of Zimbabwe means 'a happening' - the power of a thunderstorn, the energy of a crashing waterfall. The first collection of songs from the Mpopoma Dance Ensemble is just such a happening!
You can buy the Laduma! CD by mail order, contact Tongesayi Gumbo on 07760 447308

Price £10.00 (plus postage.) Cheques payable to KHULA African Arts.

All proceeds go direct to the Mpopoma Dance Ensemble's development in Zimbabwe.
Track List

1) Rejection To Entry Listen To Sample

2) Bayeza - They are Coming Listen To Sample

3) Inkomo Zikhababa - My Father's Cattle
4) Mpopoma
5) Sizwe Esimnyama - Dark Nation

6) Bambulala Ubaba - They killed my Father
7) Langa Latshona - Sunset Listen To Sample

8) Tusa Bana - help the Young Ones
9) Tatenda - Thank You

Review
Ok, so I am biased. These folk are my friends, I drummed for them this summer and I've seen Laduma performed three times. Having said that, I have a lot of African music on CD and this is one of my favourite albums.

The first track hints at the character of what's to come. This is music which constantly changes pace and direction, never allowing the listener to become complacent. And even if you don't know the story behind Rejection to Entry (despite having work permits for the 2004 UK tour, the group nearly didn't get into the country), its hard not to buy into the sentiment: "if I was a bird, I would fly away".

In Bayeza, Tongesayi tells how the warning shouts by the village lookouts are now replaced by 21'st century technology, "talking on the celliphone". Many of the songs are about cattle, the traditional currency of southern Africa - just listen to Langa Latshone. And for those fans of Alexander McCall Smith's The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, hear what Setswana sounds like in Tatenda, a song of thanks.

This is a georgeous album.

Tony Bennett , Mundi Drummers