This fine, folkloric pop group from remote, northern Mozambique is known almost exclusively because of a single 1989 recording that became one of the first releases on Peter Gabriel's Real World label. Mama Mozambiki, recorded eight years after Eyuphuru was first formed, introduced a unique and exiting new Afopop sound, rich with acoustic guitar, harmonized vocals, and 12/8 rhythms with a distinctly Mozambican swing. It also held out great promise for the new Real World label--the promise that it might uncover more great, unknown African roots music. Sadly, Eyuphuru soon dissolved amid family tragedy and dissention, and Real World's African output--following two other great African revelations: Remy Ongala and Ghorwane--has tended to more bland crossover fare and established names like Papa Wemba.

Eyuphuru--which, fittingly, means "whirlwind"--reformed in 1998 with lead singer Zena Bacar and a combination of old and new members. This new recording is a strong effort that effectively picks up where Mama Mozambiki left off. Beautifully layered guitar work and rich vocal harmonies weave through a gently loping 12/8 groove on the lead track "Ohawha," or "Suffering," composed by a key new member, Issufo Manuel. Then Zena Bacar sings a kind of Mozambican rumba, a bright, pretty ode to a faraway love. These two composers mostly alternate through the album's ten tracks. The melancholy, soulful lope of songs like Manuel's "Africa" is particularly powerful, but there isn't a bad track here, despite a screamingly out-of-tune saxophone near the end of "Ethuila Exeni," a song about declining respect between young and old people, and an unnecessary dash of sugar sweet synthesizer on the final track, Bacar's "Ayaka" ("My Husband"). Those minor lapses aside, this is music that washes over you like warm water--soothing, fresh, and magically intoxicating.

Yellela owes much to the efforts of producer Roland Hohberg, who has worked hard to develop Mozambique's roots music recording industry in recent years. More power to him, and to Eyuphuru! No group better demonstrates the great musical potential of this often overlooked giant of a country.

Contributed by: Banning Eyre for www.afropop.org