Zuba

A global range of musical influences have been incorporated into the music of multi-national septet Zuba. Formed in 1999 by Liberian vocalist and rhythm player Jerry Boweh to perform at a charity event to aid Liberia, the group is a virtual United Nations of musicians from Liberia, the Basque Country of Spain, Zimbabwe, and three Scottish cities — Isle of Islay, Glasgow, and Aberdeen. While the Scotsman praised Zuba for its "defiantly upbeat international mix," the Guardian claimed that "an exile's longing for home, a riposte against injustice and the simple urge to dance those troubles away...underlie their cosmopolitan sound." Zuba has slowly, but steadily, made their presence felt. Their self-titled 1999 debut EP sold more than 1,000 copies. Their first full-length album, Chameleon, released in February 2001, was followed by a lengthy tour of Europe and the United Kingdom.