London, England - Nation Records, who have fronted the Global Fusion scene for years have always wanted to create a focused African album with something that was created rather than sampled. That time has come to now, drawing the label out of hibernation to present the debut album from The Mighty Zulu Nation, a traditional Zulu choir from Durban, South Africa.

The album, Abantu – In coalition with Aki Nawaz enters what the label believes to be un-chartered waters (apart from the last Fun-da-Mental album, There Shall be Love) - raw and athletic Zulu vocals flowingly engaged with Indo-Pak musicality courtesy of Aki Nawaz at the production helm.

Often dubbed ‘the young Ladysmith…’, The Mighty Zulu Nation, are the new youth-voice of post-apartheid South Africa, highlighting the pleasure and yet the pain many still endure. They are a hope to all with their positive outlook and mature perspective, even though the average age is 23 years old. Since 2002 Mighty Zulu Nation have captured audiences from Belgrade to Sweden and Bristol to Belgium, with both solo and collaborative efforts with Fun-da-mental. The twelve-piece troupe continue to go from strength to strength having recently completed a highly successful UK roadshow, ‘Global Meltdown’ for BCB Radio 96.7fm, alongside Jah Wobble and Arun Ghosh amongst others.

Abantu focuses on their journey from South Africa and the powerfully stunning harmonies and melodies are complimented by a whirl of classical strings throughout, with an Eastern flavor comprising of tablas, dhols and harmonium, shrouded with subtle break beats – an unprecedented fusion of Zulu folklore and inspiring experimentation.

This now established live collaborative project has now taken shape into one of the most innovative African albums to grace open ears and airwaves.

The Mighty Zulu Nation in collision with Fun-da-mental Live:

09 July, Genoa Italy. Music del Mediteraneo Festival

24 July, Koln, Germany. Festival details TBC

07 Aug. Nasaker, Sweden. Urkult Festival

20 Aug. Berlin, Germany. Popdeurope Festival

Abantu will be released in September, with remixes by some of Nation Records' favorite producers.

[Photo credit: Alex Vanhee. Courtesy of Nations Records].