From an article in In Toronto on the top 5 recordings of 2011
BEST LOCAL DEBUT
Amai Kuda, Sand from the Sea (Independent)This social activist (and daughter of the writer M Nourbese Philip) made a wise move when she decided to use music to spread her progressive messages about love, justice, anger and standing up for yourself. Kuda has a supple, expressive and lovely voice, and she needs little more than mesmerizing rhythmic backdrops (provided by percussion instruments, hand claps, drums, beats, finger snaps… you name it), vocal harmonies and the occasional acoustic guitar or keyboard to win over listeners with her synthesis of African folk, delta blues, spoken word, dancehall and gospel influences.
