When Akua Naru talks about the few days she has spent in Zimbabwe to far, you can sense the wonder in her voice. The American hip-hop artist, who performs at the Book Café tomorrow, December 8, 2012, is stunned by what she has seen and heard – positively so.
Zimbo Jam spoke to her this afternoon and she told us, more with the tone of her voice than the words she was saying, that she was moved by the experiences she has had so far. “I feel recharged, overwhelmed and moved by the musicianship I have seen, the sounds, the wisdom, the mbira, the food – I am overwhelmed,” she said.
Akua’s performance is headliner for the final concert of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence programme at Book Café.
The highly acclaimed international hip-hop artist will be backed by local band Chabvondoka and double-billed with the international collaboration called Monoswezi which features artists from Mozambique, Norway, Sweden and Zimbabwe’s Hope Masike.
16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence Campaign has been running at Harare’s Book Café since November 24.
Akua is an exciting new lyrical gourmet chef on the global music scene with a deliciously soulful eclectic mix of rap, spoken word and delightful old-school beats mixed with jazz.
She is a conscious poet, elegantly rhyming about the world’s imbalances and injustice, in a style reminiscent of Lauryn Hill.
She told Zimbo Jam, “My music pays respect to the soul tradition. You will find in it elements of West African music, Jazz, rock and of course, soul.”
Akua is a new breed of female rapper, a warrior for conscious, hip-hop music. Her gift for profound and deeply honest lyrics and her affinity for melding music genres has put her at the forefront of a new generation of emcees.
Naru was born and raised in the USA, and has lived in Ghana, but currently makes her home in Cologne Germany. Her performances have garnered critical acclaim by real hip-hop fans.
Her debut album, The Journey Aflame, was released in 2011 and was swiftly followed by Live & Aflame Sessions, a live interpretation of her first album performed with a 12-piece band in Cologne’s legendary Maarwegstudio2. Both albums are a moving collection of politically-conscious hip-hop, in the style of classic, respected emcees, Mos Def and Talib Kweli but with a moving, sensuality.
Now that Zimbabwe has blown her away, we’re hoping she’ll return the favour when she performs tomorrow.