Sally’s ‘I Am Mukwanekamba’ Worth the Wait

THREE years later and we’re still jamming some of the hits from her first album, ‘Courage’, but finally the wait is over. Sally also known as ‘Boss Madam’ has her second album ‘I Am Mukwanekamba’ done, dusted and ready to share with the rest of the world.

If you are a Sally fan and wondered if she will ever top the album which has the First Lady’s favourite song on it, wonder no more because she has just done just that.

She has managed to reinvent herself without losing the essence of the sound music lovers have associated with her. With ‘Courage’, Sally introduced us to a musical character that was sassy, vocally strong and lyrically rich. With ‘I Am Mukwanekamba’, the ‘Shock Absorber’ singer delivers a more mature sound filled with creativity and emotion.

The first track ‘I Am Mukwanekamba’ eases you into an introduction of what Sally is delivering to the listener. The lyrics describe the maturity of a woman who works hard, providing for her family, reflecting the maturity in sound that her musical journey has reached.

Track two ‘Ndikakwate’ turns it up a notch without taking it too far from the subtle mellow sound in track one, but just up tempo enough to have you dancing along. One can immediately envision what Sally is capable of doing on stage with track three ‘The Bigger the Better’.

Track four ‘Feel Like This’ has a somewhat Caribbean sound to it and goes well with what seems to be an emotional open letter to a lost friend.

If the sound of the African drum and percussion instruments is your type of thing, track five ‘Kukutika’ is meant for you. If you thought her first single of this album, track 12 ‘Shock Absorber’ is everything, you will thoroughly enjoy the deeply rooted African sound. It crosses so many African borders and accommodates sounds from all over the continent.

On track six Sally features Fistone, fusing her sound with a Central-African feel, especially with the use of Lingala, to give us something soft for the ear, yet still danceable. If ever you wanted to have a Namibian song for your first wedding dance, this is it.

What is a Sally album without some fun? With lyrics like “today is the day I get loose with my girls” and “I got my license to chill”, track seven ‘Chess-Chess’ is a typical girls-night-out track. Sally gives a fun sound fused with her taking on something almost like rap, but more like just a good flow.

Turning the tune up, on track nine ‘Atata’ she shows off her rap abilities and there is no way you can listen to this and not start dancing.

Sally lays her emotions bare on track 10 ‘Telela’, a song dedicated to her aunt who passed away and everybody who has lost a loved one. One can physically feel the emotion with every “telela telela telela nge” (wait, wait, wait for me) she sings.

A pleasant surprise on the album is Sally teaming up with award-winning Erna Chimu and Tunakie in an inspirational message. The song gives life to our diverse cultural backgrounds coming together as one nation.

A modernised Namibian ethnic sound could never have sounded better, these three musical giants in their respective genres managed to gel well together. Some collaborations are just meant to be hits and this is one them.

With the last track on the album, ‘Mwashala’, Sally bows out like the Boss Madam she proves to be. As the title translates (you are left behind), Sally sends a clear message in beautiful Oshiwambo lyrics to her competitors to tell them exactly where they are in the race.

Many people may not know this, but not only is Sally vocally and musically talented but she is also a seasoned thespian, which explains her dominant stage presence as well as the theatrics and creativity in her work.

‘I Am Mukwanekamba’ is a much better album than ‘Courage’. It offers a more mature and structured sound. It has an interesting flow that keeps you entertained, going from a smooth, slow sound to turning it up a notch to upbeat, just to bring it back to a laid-back emotion-filled feel.

The live instruments especially the electric guitar, the ambiance and rich percussion instrument sound is pleasant and adds to the quality of the album.

For those who have been waiting, it is worth every minute. Sally has once again proven why she is in a league of her own.