Cecilia Ndhlovu, declares Chiwoniso our Zimbabwean Queen of the Mbira after listening to her album Rebel Woman and feeling its power. All women musicians from Zimbabwe should be really proud of her.... Read on for the full review.

I have known Chiwoniso for about ten to fifteen years. We worked together in Andy Brown's band, which had a short tour of Mozambique in 1999, that was the year when I first heard her debut album, 'Ancient Voices '. I was touched since then and have watched her grow in the industry following in her daddy's footsteps, who was a professor and taught mbira all around the world, especially in America. Chiwoniso's first album was really good but this new album, 'Rebel Woman ' is something else, she has lifted the flag of Zimbabwe and all women musicians from Zim' should be really proud of her..

I have been listening to 'Rebel Woman ' album for more than ten times in a day this tells you how powerful this album is, in one of the tracks 'Matsotsi' she sings about the corruption in our country, how the poor continue to suffer and yet no one seems to care. It's survival of the fittest. Then she plays a very traditional tune on vakuru, 'Vanorapa', expressing the feel of the song in her sweetest voice.

Her mbiras are played in a traditional style but then on other tracks she also demonstrates her talent by playing some soul melodies.

This album has declared her the queen of mbira, I have worked with loads of musicians in my life but have never ever met someone who is so optimistic and so passionate about her culture and music. Chiwoneso may live anywhere in the world but she always be proud to be a Zimbabwean, it says it all in her music. Zimbabwe is experiencing very hard times at the moment but she still touches our hearts and souls and takes us to a different planet with her mbira and her voice.

All I can say is keep it up sister you have made us proud and we love you!!

She will always be one of my biggest inspirations in life, I remember one time when I was working with her I was going through a tough patch and we use to talk and she was a very good listener, then on our next gig she wrote me a poem called, 'I Am A Phenomenal Woman', which really touched me and encouraged me to move on with life.

Chiwoniso is master minded and she is our Zimbabwean mbira queen I love every track in this album. Nothing could be better than this...

Written for GondwanaSound by Cecilia Ndhlovu - ex backing vocalist of legend Oliver Mtukudzi.