NAMVULA Rennie, one of the few Zambian artists performing in Europe, is taking in three Dorset village halls as part of an Artsreach tour.

Her performance creates an intrepid new world where folk and urban traditions of her Zambian homeland combine with her Scottish heritage and London’s vibrant eclectic music scene.

Crossing boundaries with a refreshing honesty and evocative lyricism, Namvula’s music draws you into different worlds, yet remains firmly rooted in Africa.

Namvula has collaborated and shared the stage with artists including legendary South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela, multi award-winning Zambian singer Maureen Lilanda, and sitar player Anoushka Shankar.

With a stellar cast of some of the UK’s most respected African and jazz musicians, including bassist Liran Donin of Mercury-nominated Led Bib and Senegalese percussionist Mamadou Sarr, who tours with international star Baaba Maal, the group delivers evocative, honest, and ultimately uplifting performances. Namvula’s debut album Shiwezwa has been released and her performances with Artsreach in Dorset will mark the beginning of an exciting launch tour.

The album is comprised of 11 original songs by Namvula and one song by her aunt, local singing legend Maureen Lilanda, and features a stellar cast of some of the UK’s most respected African and jazz musicians, including bassist Liran Donin (Led Bib), saxophonist Chris Williams (Led Bib), percussionist Mamadou Sarr (Baaba Maal), Senegalese kora player Kadialy Kouyate and veteran Ghanaian guitarist Alfred Bannerman (Osibisa).

The making of Shiwezwa was something of a homecoming for Namvula – her childhood was spent in Switzerland and Kenya, before she was sent to school in the UK.

Although she has visited Zambia regularly all her life, in 2012 she decided to spend more time there in order to research and study with traditional musicians.

It was during this trip that she discovered Maureen Lilanda was her aunt and, consequently, she became Namvula’s mentor, inspiring her in ways she could never have anticipated.

She is performing at Winterborne Stickland village hall on Friday, November 7 at 7.30pm Call 01258 880920 for tickets.

The tour then goes to Evershot village hall on Saturday, November 8 at 8.30pm.

Call 01935 83580 for tickets.

On Sunday, November 9 at 7.30pm the tour comes to Studland village hall. Call 01929 450204 for tickets.

See artsreach.co.uk for more information.