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Lulu Nyeusi is the name of both a label and a loose collective of artists based on the island of Zanzibar in the East African nation of Tanzania. Lulu Nyeusi which means 'Black Pearl' in Swahili - takes its name from the Phil Spector produced Sonny Charles and the Checkmates soul classic. In Zanzibar's slavery days pearls held a special notoriety for they were used by the Arab slavers to house the djinn [genies] which held the African population in their sway. Fast forward 200 years and you will find Jamila Zalala, 28 year old Lulu Nyeusi founder turning the tables on the male dominated and Arabic dominated Zanzibari music scene. Lulu's cultured pearls draw not only on the rich East African musical heritage but a Pan-African melange including everything from Salsa, French Carribean compas, Nigerian Afrobeat to jazzy retro Hip-Hop. In a sea of Swahili language language knockoffs of cheesy American pop and testosterone driven Arabic torch songs, Lulu Nyeusi creates a flawless contemporary East African sound which has been in the background much too long.

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