New York, NY (Top40 Charts) On July 30, Grammy-nominated vocalist and songwriter Somi will release her new album, Zenzile: The Reimagination of Miriam Makeba, a celebration of the late Makeba's invaluable musical contributions and messages of social justice. The album, which will be released on the artist's Salon Africana label, features Somi's renditions of Makeba's best known songs - both Makeba's own compositions and covers— starting with the single "Pata Pata," Makeba's infectious dance track and worldwide 1967 hit.
"Pata Pata" is out today. Listen here: https://linktr.ee/somimusic
Regarded as one of Africa's first international superstars, Makeba (whose given name is 'Zenzile') elevated the spirit of a continent, including her native South Africa. Her courage, however, was met with three decades of political exile from her homeland followed by blacklisting in the United States after 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. Somi adds, "This album is my attempt to honor the unapologetic voice of an African woman who inevitably made room for my own journey and countless other African artists. In short, I owe her. We all do."
In recognition of Makeba's resonance throughout Africa and the diaspora, Somi invited a number of special guests to perform on the record. From South Africa, Grammy-winning male vocal group Ladysmith
Black Mambazo, singer-songwriter Msaki, vocalist and activist Thandiswa Mazwai, and jazz pianist-composer Nduduzo Makhathini join Somi for the tribute. Guests also include Grammy-winning American jazz singer Gregory Porter, Nigerian singer-musician Seun Kuti (Fela Kuti's youngest son), and Grammy-winning singer-songwriter and activist, Angelique Kidjo.
Somi will take the story of Makeba's life to the theater stage with her original musical Dreaming Zenzile. Written by and starring Somi and directed by Obie Award winner Lileana Blain-Cruzthe production is set to premiere later in the year. Dates for multiple productions throughout the U.S. to be announced shortly. Dreaming Zenzile features a cast of five—including Somi as Makeba—a live band, original music and reinterpretations of Makeba's popular repertoire. For her first foray into theater, Somi was named a 2019 Sundance Theater Fellow.
In addition to Somi's upcoming album and theater production, 2021 brought the artist her first Grammy nomination. Holy Room: Live at the Alte Oper, recorded with the Frankfurt
Radio Big Band, was nominated for Best Jazz Vocal Album. The album also won an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Jazz Vocal Album.
Carnegie Hall's "Voice of Hope" online festival includes Somi's short experimental film "in the absence of things." The film features music from Grammy-nominated Holy Room: Live at Alte Oper. It is followed by a multi-song performance filmed live in Dakar, Senegal, featuring an Afro-jazz instrumental ensemble. Somi's film and performance can be viewed through May 31 at carnegiehall.org
Somi was recently featured in "The Arts Interrupted," an episode of PBS Great Performances that examined artistic challenges and potential for growth during the Covid shutdown.
Zenzile: The Reimagination of Miriam Makeba Tracklist
Umhome
House of the Rising Sun
Milele feat. Seun Kuti & Thandiswa Mazwai
Hapo Zamani
Love Tastes Like Strawberries feat. Gregory Porter
Khuluma feat. Msaki
Pata Pata
A Piece of Ground
Kwedini
Lakutshon'ilanga
Olili
Mbombela
Jike'lemaweni feat. Angelique Kidjo
Nonqonqo feat. Ladysmith
Black Mambazo
Malaika
Ring Bell, Ring Bell
Mabhongo feat. Nduduzo Makhathini
Somi Kakoma is singer, songwriter, playwright and actor of Rwandan and Ugandan descent. She has released seven acclaimed albums, scoring positions on the World Music, Jazz, and Heatseekers charts. Somi's records have featured guests including Common, Angelique Kidjo, and renowned South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela, who became her longtime mentor. She has been widely honored as a Soros Equality Fellow, a TED Senior Fellow, a USA Doris Duke Fellow, a 2021 Grammy nominee, and a recipient of two NAACP Image Awards. She performed at Carnegie Hall alongside Hugh Masekela, Dave Matthews, and Vusi Mahlesela in celebration of South African democracy, and was invited by UN Secretary General to perform in commemoration of the International Day of Rememberance of the Victimes of Slavery. Somi is the founder of Salon Africana, a boutique arts agency and label for contemporary African musicians and writers. She holds undergraduate degrees in Anthropology and African Studies from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and a Master's degree in Performance Studies from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts.
