URITHI EP by Nasambu & Mbaluka

Urithi EP is an Acoustic Afro Jazz Album celebrating African Heroes, Icons and Artists for their contributions to African Heritage and Culture. Urithi in Swahili translates to “heritage, legacy, or inheritance”. In this album, three African legends - Mwana Kupona of Lamu, Kenya, Siti Binti Saad of Zanzibar, and Nelson Mandela of South Africa, have been honored through their timeless poetry and positive influence throughout the ages.

The Acoustic Duo, Nasambu & Mbaluka, have embarked on this musical project during a global season of great change and upheaval, in order to bring about an artistic interpretation of what is truly of value when everything is stripped away. Through this album, the duo have delved into the recent and ancient past, reviving the words and lifestyle of the elders, bringing messages of blessings to the children, of a never ending commitment to love and the need for strong leaders to guide and protect their communities.

Mwana Kupona, a poetic blessing, is the first song of the EP, an excerpt from The Book of Mwana Kupona, penned in the 1800’s. It was featured on International Jazz Day 2020 Virtual Concert which we were honored to perform for, and is one of the early written works of Swahili literature from the historic Kenyan coastal town of Lamu.

Yalaiti, a classic Swahili love song, was originally sung by one of the most famous Taarab singers of Zanzibar from the early 1900’s, Siti Binti Saad and has become a well known ballad within the Taarab collection of great works.

The final song, Madiba, was originally written by Dr. Mosi Dorbayani. Nasambu was commissioned by the World Academy of Arts, Literature and Media (WAALM), to compose an African-stylized song version which was released on the inauguration of the first UN International Day of Nelson Mandela, also known as Mandela Day, which is celebrated every year on July 18th.

Acoustic

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