UPENDO
LOVE
10YR CELEBRATORY ALBUM
Ormelili Village Choir
Hear
the
Love
Deep in the African bush is intimate knowledge of the natural world rooted in convictions of spiritual love and traditions of the Maasai. Ormelili Choir from the Hai District lift mere dialogue to a sensory exploration with emotive and uplifting gospel music on the release of our 10YR celebratory album, Upendo (Love).
The scene begins in the darkly padded walls of our Arusha recording studio on a Tuesday morning in June 2021. With its checkered sound absorbing foam and isolation pads, the studio is itself a character in the production. The choir members orderly enter with dreamlike twinkles in their eyes, much like their predecessors in 2012.
Alex calmly choregraphs the procession buoyed by the collective energy and years of practice. His excellence is felt by all, soothing any nerves of the newcomers.
Serengetidipity
With over a decade of experience building
Voice of Maasai, we have gained quite a notable reputation for our collaborative spirit. Not content to rest on the laurels, we teamed up with Angel Mollel, recipient of VOM 2021 Remarkable Women Award, to produce our second full choir album. Angel's community choir, including some of her family members, caravanned to the studio where Alex was jazzed to work together in producing our 10YR celebratory album, Upendo.
Ormelili Village Choir
Album includes 8 original songs flitting between Maasai Gospel, Calypso, Chakacha, Makirikiri, Blues and Traditional. From Ormelili Village, the choir consists of men and women, ages 15 - 60.
Special thanks to all the men and women of the choir and community with distinguished acknowledgements going to:
Producer/Composition/Instrumentalist (bass guitar, keyboard): Alex Lobulu
Co-Composer: Joel Sadock
Songwriters: Paulo Tokoine Mollel, Helena Mishileki, Naishooki, and Gustavu Kitomal
Choir leaders: Renny Shao, Jenes Gabriel Mamasita
Choir facilitator: Angel Mollel
Lyric Translations: Pastor Seth Sululu
Album Art: Jessey Jansen
Bonus: Download direct from VOM and receive English lyric translations
Album Art Inspiration
Limited Edition
Upendo is a love story of layered beauty, faith and invaluable land. To understand would be to honor the mothers, the core, the energy of the earth. Circular elements weave their way into my designs as they are central in Maasai culture; from body marks to migration patterns in nature, to aerial views of the vast countryside dotted with circular bomas, to cycles of life, you sense connectivity all around. Format inspired by the nostalgic 12" vinyl record covers, paying homage to keeping the music (the story) alive.
~Jessey Jansen
Inner Circle of Collectors receive exclusive art, password protected access to full music catalog, lyric translations and more! Collect
Help Us Share the Rhythms
Fans, you don't need to give money to contribute. Help us get the word out by sharing our QR code in your social circles, with family, colleagues or at your small businesses. Its easy to share digitally, but how about getting creative? Download, print and display at your desk or post on community bulletin?
Tenebo Oiye, We are Together
