Vocal Tradition: IYASA and "Helele Mama"

Our random tune for today is called Helele Mama, and is performed by IYASA. Short for Inkululeko Yabatsha School of Arts, IYASA is a Zimbabwe-based award winning performing arts school for youth which was established in 2001. The school uses workshops, classes, projects, training programs and performance to build awareness of and support for the arts in Zimbabwe, and also serves as an incubator for talent in the country in a wide range of fields, including poetry, acting, music, voice, drama, film and other areas. You can find Helele Mama on the 2016 album Best of African Mbube. Mbube is an African vocal genre which is commonly associated with the group Ladysmith Black Mambazo, and was originally developed in coal mines by young Zulu men. It is characterized by a strong four part a cappella vocal harmony with dancing.

Listen to songs like this and more on the KUNM Global Music Show every Monday night from 10 pm - 1 am Mountain Standard Time. Live streaming, program information and the two-week digital archive can be found at http://www.kunm.org.