COMPOSERS: Njava
LABELS: EMI Hemisphere
WORKS: World
CATALOGUE NO: 4 99265 2
Njava, a family fivesome from Madagascar now based in Brussels are two singing sisters who deliver a rousing range of vocal colours and techniques over the poised support of their brothers on guitar, bass and light percussion. Often the sources are in ceremonial styles, though melody-led.
It’s a similar take on musical tradition to Koité’s, with a more robust and definitely feminine perspective, including a two-way satire about an African male who can’t get a woman because they all prefer Englishmen.