Nzimbu, Kikongo for "song" and, at the time when cowrie shells were still being used as currency in Congo (see also the photo on the album cover) it also meant "fortune", is a project uniting Ray Lema, Ballou Canta and Fredy Massamba, three generations of vocalists hailing from both sides of the Congo River (Brazilian guitarist Rodrigo Viana is the odd man out). Mix the polyphonic melodies of the Pygmies ('Ntoto', previously found on Massamba's debut album, 'Ethnophony') with rumba from Kinshasa ('Aigre-Doux') and hip-hop from Brazzaville ('Nsongela') and you'll end up with Nzimbu. Nice easy listening album that can best be describes as Congo unplugged!