Elsy Wameyo: Nilotic | 4ZZZ Brisbane 102.1FM

- Nilotic is the debut EP from Adelaide-based/Kenyan-born rapper, singer and producer Elsy Wameyo. It is the latest in an impressive stream of music from Australia’s migrant and refugee communities by label Music In Exile.

Elsy Wameyo is from the Nilotic tribes of Western Kenya, who draw their name like their water from their proximity to the southern end of the world’s longest river. These names, places and languages featuring prominently in this record as a sign Elsy is delving into her roots in that ancient culture and place as well as contemporary hip hop.

Opening track River Nile is a fantastic song, with Elsy’s production mixing shuddering dancehall bass with gospel-style vocal samples; while the title track recalls Missy Elliot’s adventurous sampling. It is one of a couple of tunes on the end of the EP which address racialised police violence – undoubtedly a topical issue for dark-skinned youth of today wherever they are. Elsewhere the songs are poppier and the lyrics positive self-affirmations, or not in English like the soulful Afro-pop of Sulwe.

On the whole it is an incredibly accomplished debut from the 23 year old, who self-produced not just the six songs but also a couple of visually stunning video clips. Not that Elsy Wameyo is trying to claim all the credit. The liner notes say:

"Nilotic is the byproduct of God’s grace in my life… the spiritual journey I took with my Father, where I learnt, through obedience and true faith, that alone I am a mere mortal, but with him I can do ALL things. This EP was never the point. God, in his full grace, chose to bless me with a product I can use to showcase his works in my life."

Pretty rare to find that kind of sentiment in mainstream music, though Elsy is of course acting in a hip hop tradition – Run from Run DMC, Salt from Salt n Pepa and MC Hammer are all in the clergy these days, not to mention Kanye’s gospel allusions or the long-held links between militant black rap and the Nation of Islam.

Black artists, for whom delving into their cultural traditions is a source of strength, often don’t share the same squeamishness about religion that white creatives possess. But they also have the advantage that religion’s links to movements for human rights and social change has given black christianity a theological breadth and broad cultural relevance lacking from mainstream christian churches whose worldview is tied to defending the social status quo. Pop culture is frequently a shallow pool of spiritual reflection that could do with some depth, but it would help if more christian art was as joyous, creative and purposeful as Elsy Wameyo.

Whether we can credit it to her own talents or to a higher power, Nilotic is a powerful way for Elsy Wameyo to announce her arrival in the Australian music scene.

- Andy Paine.