Percussionist Kasiva Mutua releases heartbreak song ahead of Valentine’s album release
By Rajab ZawadiInternational touring percussionist, Kasiva Mutua, known for integrating African traditional music with modern styles such as jazz, Hip-Hop, Reggae, and funk has released a new single “Ndikweteela the lead track to her anticipated debut album, DESTURI scheduled for release on the Valentine’s Day next month.
“Ndikweteela” is a poignant exploration of love and loss, capturing the bittersweet pain of a long-distance relationship’s unraveling.
The song reflects the heartbreak, insecurities, and irony of infidelity in separation. Written as a final farewell, “Ndikweteela” is both a tender apology and a resolute embrace of healing and renewed joy.
The music video, delivering a powerful visual narrative, was shot in the breathtaking landscape of Ol Donyo Nyokie, home to the Maasai people of Kenya. In a moment rich with cultural symbolism, a Maasai man dances alongside Kasiva as she plays the drum—an instrument traditionally reserved for men in many African traditions.
The rhythm that has defined Kasiva Mutua’s extraordinary career as one of Africa’s foremost percussionists now carries a stunning new melody: her voice. This brand-new single marks a new chapter in Kasiva’s career, revealing herself as more than just a percussionist.
Grounded in Kamba lyrics, “Ndikweteela” blends a tapestry of African sounds. Drawing from the rhythmic influences of Maloya music from La Réunion, coastal Kenya’s Chakacha traditions, and Isukuti beats from Western Kenya, it showcases a captivating fusion of cultural heritage and modern innovation.
Kasiva Mutua may have learned drumming from folktales told by her grandmother, but has developed her knack for powerful beats making her one of only a few African women playing percussion continentally and internationally, and has performed on global stages alongside icons such as Kirk Whalum and Oliver Mtukudzi. She is also a member of the Kenyan-based Nairobi Horns Project and backs several musicians in Kenya such as The Safaricom Choir, Maia and the Big Sky, Fadhilee Itulya, Silayio, and Kidum.
The Kenya native co-founded an all-female percussion group, MOTRA (MOdern and TRAditional rhythms), which involves drumming mentorship and sisterhood.