About this Artist

• Biography

Editorial Reviews

Burundi's Khadja Nin follows the enormous success of Sambolera with this lush fourth album, where the atmospheric pop of the Eurythmics, the measured lamentations of Portishead, and the gleaming humanism of Miriam Makeba (whom she credits as a prime influence) swirl together into something stunning and new. Longtime British collaborator Nicolas Fiszman composes and performs most of the musical settings, while Nin provides poignant and deeply personal lyrics. Singing in Swahili and Kirundi, she focuses on two basic themes: her family and her home continent, Africa. "Embargo" addresses the suffering in her native Burundi caused by international trade policies, conveyed ever so softly to the crystalline strains of nylon-string guitar. Indeed, Nin is passionate about peace, but not dogmatic. "Turasa" denounces racial hegemony in only the grooviest way, while "Mzee Mandela" is an homage to that venerated freedom fighter from South Africa. "Damu Ya Salaam" is an adaption of Sting's "Russians," with percussion inspired by the rolling thunder of the Drummers of Burundi. "Mama" soars like an anthem, with its dreamy keyboard backdrops, rubbery, mesmerizing bass, and Nin's keening voice as she honors mothers everywhere. Its fully hip wisdom and sophisticated, spellbinding soundscapes make Ya one of the finer world music albums of 2000. Abraham Velez, Barnes & Noble

Customer Reviews

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