Zim’s Mokoomba to launch new album & tour Europe

The album is available on iTunes, Bandcamp and Amazon.

Luyando (Tonga for “mother’s love”) touches on the Zimbabwean society, culture and tradition.

On Luyando, Mokoomba modifies their rock-band oriented sound to record an acoustic album whose songs are rooted in the local traditions and life in their hometown of Victoria Falls. The album takes listeners on a journey into the disappearing world of cultural traditions that used to be at the heart of Tonga and Luvale society.

Some of the tracks that feature on the album include ‘Njawane’, a song that advises young hunters on how to act faced with a lion; ‘Kumukanda’, is inspired by a Tonga initiation ceremony that the band experienced together as teens; and ‘Mabemba’ speaks about the traditional values of the Tonga people.

There are also light and playful songs like ‘Nyaradzo’, a song of cheeky courtship; ‘Kulindiswe’ a personal lament on the time spent away from family; ‘Kambowa’, a track that builds a melody and a structure based on traditional drumming; and ‘Mokole’ which speaks to not only the beauty of Victoria Falls but also to the importance of the river and its water as a life-giving force.

While broadly accessible and engaging, the songs in Luyando are also responsive to today’s Zimbabwe. The album is a quest for the wisdom of tradition and history as well as insight and solace amid contemporary crisis.

All songs, except ‘Mokole’ were written by Mokoomba. ‘Mokole’ was written by Steve Dyer. The whole album, except ‘Vimbe’, was recorded by Tami Bimha of MFD Studios in Harare. ‘Vimbe’ was recorded in Munich, Germany by Michael Heilrath. 

Luyando was mixed by Steve Dyer of Dyertribe Studio in Pretoria, South Africa. Production of the whole album was done in Harare by Marcas Gora; Jay Rutledge is the executive producer of the album.

Touring Europe

The band will be touring Europe ahead of their album release. Below are the tour dates.

• 09 February - Munich, German
• 10 February - Stein, Netherlands
• 11 Februray - Innsbruck, Austria
• 12 February - Zurich, Switzerland
• 17 February - Copenhagen, Denmark
• 18 February - Malmö, Sweden
• 23 February - Rotterdam, Netherlands
• 24 February - Brussels, Belgium