Search - Mabulu :: Karimbo

The terrible Mozambique floods that occurred early in 2000 aroused the world's sympathy. One of the positive things that emerged from that catastrophe was this landmark recording of contemporary Mozambican music. The main rhythm that permeates this CD is the marrabenta, which emerged in the Portuguese colonial period and which resembles Latin salsa, Trinidadian calypso, and Angolan merengue. Just as the Buena Vista Social Club united several generations of Cuban musicians, this CD pairs the legendary singer Lisboa Mataval, who was big in the '60s, with rapper Chiquito and the reggae MC Mr. Arssen. They're backed by a combo consisting of guitars, drums, percussion, and background vocals, and the music rocks with tinges of reggae and rap, especially on "Yingisa" and the Afro-dancehall version of the traditional Mozambican song "Ngoma Macandju." The most poignant track is "Ndambi" ("Floods"), which highlights the true wealth of this musical nation. --Eugene Holley Jr.