Grammy-nominated Ugandan vocalist and songwriter Somi will release her new album, Zenzile: The Reimagination of Miriam Makeba, a celebration of the late Makeba’s musical contributions and messages of social justice, on July 30th. The album features Somi’s renditions of Makeba’s best-known songs—both Makeba’s own compositions and covers— starting with the iconic single “Pata Pata,” a global hit from 1967.
After the release of Zenzile, Somi will take the story of Makeba’s life to the theatre stage with her original new musical Dreaming Zenzile. Written by and starring Somi and directed by Obie Award winner Lileana Blain-Cruz, the production is set to premiere later in 2021. Dreaming Zenzile features a cast of five—including Somi as Makeba—a live band, original music and reinterpretations of Makeba’s popular repertoire.
Regarded as one of Africa’s first international superstars, Makeba elevated the spirit of a continent, including her native South Africa. Her courage, however, was met with blacklisting that began with her marriage to civil rights activist Stokely Carmichael. Somi’s lifelong love of Makeba’s music and personal strength led to a record that she hopes will inspire a rediscovery of Makeba’s life and work.
Born in Illinois, Somi has always used her artistry to pay homage to the complexity of life on the African continent. In 2014, she released a critically acclaimed album titled The Lagos Music Salon inspired by an 18-month sabbatical she spent in the city. Somi has released six other albums, scoring positions on the World Music, Jazz, and Heatseekers charts.
Click to buy:
Nigeria Latest News, Nigeria Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.