Navy Kenzo: New album is electric and groovy

Navy Kenzo, fronted by Tanzanian couple Nahreel and Aika, has set the bar in terms of what a contemporary pop duo can achieve in the region. Arguably the most prominent pair in East Africa, they have collected numerous awards, toured abroad and sold out concerts. 

They are known for their infectious Afropop hits such as 'Kamatia', 'Game', 'Fella' and 'Katika', which has amassed more than 22 million views on YouTube.

Story of the African Mob is a 12-track collection, two of which were released as singles ahead of time: 'Bampa 2 Bamba' and 'Pon Mi'. The album was co-produced by Nahreel, Mantra, JuwonMix, Buskillaz , KillBeatz, Pablo Lannoche, Breezy Beats and Chizan Brain.

The album also sees collaborations with King Promise, Mugeez and MzVee from Ghana as well as Nandy (Tanzania) and Tiggs da Author (UK/Tanzania).

While trying to elaborate on the album's title to Music In Africa, the duo quotes the African proverb: "Until the lion learns to write, every story will glorify the hunter." Like many other African artists, they believe that stories about the continent should be told by Africans. 

"It is our continent, therefore we should be proud to talk about our culture because we live it every day," Nahreel says. "We are celebrating African fashion, art, creativity and the unique stories of African people. We are also celebrating different music styles. It's got a lot going on. It's electric and groovy."

The 12 tracks discuss topics such as identity, relationships and acceptance, using wordplay to allude to personal experiences. The duo also experiments with Afrobeats, Afro-jazz, R&B and hip hop – showing off just how diverse their sound can be. 

"We want to make music that we feel everybody, regardless of being a fan or not, wants to hear," Aika says. "Our lyrics are fun, more mature but relatable to real love stories and other real social life stories."

"We're excited about our album. I think we will impress the audiences because its sound slightly differs from the current wave in the scene. We continue to evolve and diversify."

The record had been in the making for almost a year and was initially set for release as an EP. "We had plans to release an extended playlist EP titled Lockd. Then boom, the pandemic happened. The quarantine period gave us enough time to compose and produce more music, just enough to compete for an album," Nahreel said.

The duo has come a long way since its 2016 debut Above Inna Minute (AIM), which was released three years after Navy Kenzo's formation. The two met while studying at university in India. This led to a lasting romantic relationship, which involves two children, and a successful business partnership.

"We have elevated as individuals, sound-wise and creatively," Aika says. "This second album has allowed us to contribute the best way we deemed fit. We both have quite different tastes, but over the years we have found it better to work first apart and then together, ensuring only the best works make it out of the studio." 

"We are just perfectly attuned to one another, certainly also because we have known each other for so long," Nahreel said. "We have adjusted well to each other and created a good distribution of roles. We are also fans of each other's work, which makes criticism inevitable."

The idea that music should be a vessel for escapism is one Nahreel and Aika both agree with, citing the current global COVID-19 pandemic and the tense political climate in Tanzania ahead of the general elections in October.

"Music right now should be something that bonds people together," Aika says. "I don't mean like not take it seriously, but there are so many massive things going on in the world right now, it should be what people use to escape unwelcoming realities." 

Nahreel concludes: "The secret to overcoming the challenges is to have faith in your work and surround yourself with people who believe in you. That way, you grow more resilient because they help you to stay on course."

Story of the African Mob is available for streaming and purchase here.