Nsimbi
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About
Nsimbi is a Ugandan - American international award-winning duo formed by Ugandan hip-hop pioneer GNL Zamba and American world fusion artist Miriam Tamar. Building on the acoustic sounds and indigenous instruments of Africa, Nsimbi blends contemporary elements of "Lugaflow" hip-hop and spoken word with English/Western songwriting and vocals to merge the traditional with the modern. A global sound anchored in the rich universal messages of ancient East African proverbs and folklore emerged with their debut self-titled album, featured on KCRW's Rhythm Planet and Public Radio International’s The World, and noted by NPR’s Tiny Desk/All Songs Considered. Their dynamic style embraces the beauty of dialogue and human connection through music and bridges cultures with lyrics in English, Swahili, Luganda and Lingala. Upon release, Nsimbi quickly charted on iTunes World Music top 5 in the US, Canada and Uganda. Within one year, the album received 2 international awards and 10 nominations.
Nsimbi creates a vibrant interactive live experience that invites us to celebrate around the communal fire, and was an official artist at the SXSW 2019 Music Festival including showcasing for Afropop Worldwide. Sonically and visually dynamic, and at the same time rich in cultural content, Nsimbi has also been welcomed into prominent arts spaces including the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art and the Fowler Museum UCLA.
GNL Zamba is among East Africa’s most influential hip-hop artists, credited with bringing rap to the region's mainstream culture by using Uganda’s indigenous language in a style known as Lugaflow. He is the founder and CEO of Uganda’s only hip hop label, Baboon Forest Entertainment, which continues to mentor young talent and organize events. Nominated for over 40 African music awards, winning 17, GNL has performed throughout the world, including the We Love Africa Music Festival in Denmark, Selam Africa Music Festival in Ethiopia, and Sauti Za Busara Festival in Zanzibar.
Fusion vocalist and songwriter Miriam Tamar creates empowering soundscapes that journey through the vibrant rhythms of global culture. Her mix of genres reflects her years of jazz & pop influenced by world travels and the communities she’s lived within, including five years spent in Uganda developing peace education curriculum to rebuild the lives of post-conflict children, in addition to collaborating with artists from different regions of the country. Profoundly transformed and determined to remind people of the beauty beyond borders, Miriam’s solo Firedance EP debuted in the Top 5 of the iTunes World Music Chart and was featured on The Huffington Post .
The duo met in Uganda in 2012, and have collaborated in Africa and in the United States since. As passionate global citizens, Nsimbi create multi-media content and offer workshops tied to the themes of cross-cultural exchange, appreciation, and dialogue explored in their music.
Independent Music Awards 2019 Winner for Best Song - World Beat
Independent Music Awards 2019 Nominee for Best Song - Spoken Word
Independent Music Awards 2019 Nominee for Best Debut Album
Independent Music Awards 2019 Nominee for Best Music Video
256 Hip Hop Awards 2019 Winner for African Rapper of the Year
256 Hip Hop Awards 2019 Nominee for Album of the Year
256 Hip Hop Awards 2019 Nominee for Hustler of the Year
256 Hip Hop Awards 2019 Nominee for Video of the Year
256 Hip Hop Awards 2019 Nominee for Impact Track of the Year
256 Hip Hop Awards 2019 Nominee for Collaboration of the Year
UK Shiny Awards 2019 Nominee for Music Video
Abryanz Style & Fashion Awards 2018 Nominee for Most Fashionable Video of the Yea
Hip Hop/Rap | World Music/Traditional | World Music/Contemporary
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Current News
- 09/17/2020
“Searching” new release by Nsimbi taps into 2020’s call for more love
“Searching” – a new release by the cross-cultural musical duo Nsimbi – speaks to this tumultuous moment, when so many of us are searching for grounding, stability, meaning, connection and love.
"In these complicated and tough Covid times,” explains writer and vocalist Miriam Tamar, “so many of us can feel isolated - both physically and emotionally. For me, Searching talks about that basic human need for love and connection. Being loved, or giving...
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Press
- PML Daily, Event preview, 10/07/2020, GNL Zamba to hold ‘Uganda Yaffe Festival” online Independence Day fete
- The Kampala Sun, Event preview, 10/06/2020, Baboon Forest Record label launches 1st edition of the “Uganda Yaffe Festival”
- EA Scene, 10/07/2020, Baboon Forest Presents “Uganda Yaffe” Independence Festival.
- Uganda Buzz, Event preview, 10/08/2020, Baboon Forest & Nsimbi in Inaugural ‘Uganda Yaffe’ Festival Tonight
- New Vision, Event preview, 10/07/2020, Inaugural Uganda Yaffe Festival set for online launch on Oct 8
- Sqoop, Event preview, 10/07/2020, 1st edition of ‘Uganda Yaffe’ festival set to happen
- Mbu, Event preview, 10/07/2020, Nsimbi celebrates Ugandan diversity and culture in Uganda Yaffe online festival
- Chano8, Track review, 08/18/2020, Rapper Gnl Zamba and American Wife Tamar Searching for Love in New Soothing Song




