New Shingai Release ‘Mhondoro’ Blends Ancestry, Climate and Sound

Music super star Shingai has released her powerful new single Mhondoro on April 30, using music as a rallying cry for environmental protection and cultural remembrance during Earth Month. The release offers a bold first taste of Flow, the upcoming EarthSonic album that brings together women artists from across the globe to tell stories of water, identity, and survival.

By Plot Mhako

Rooted in ancestral symbolism and driven by a commanding sonic landscape, Mhondoro is more than a song it is a warning. “‘Mhondoro’ is a warning to any more attempts to pollute our sacred waters nationally and internationally,” Shingai said.

Inspired by the traditional Zimbabwean song Dzinomwa Muna Save, the single draws on themes of lineage, spirituality, and belonging. The phrase loosely translates to: “We drink from the Save River our ancestors the Lions drink from the Save River. So we are the children of the Save River.” Through this connection, Shingai transforms memory into resistance, linking sacred waterways to ancestral heritage.

The release arrives ahead of EarthSonic’s Flow album, expected in November, which will feature an international lineup including Nadine Shah (UK), British-Bangladeshi vocalist Sohini Alam, Brazilian artists Jaloo, Bebé Salvego and Keila, Madame Gandhi (USA), as well as musicians from Iceland and Finland. Produced by award-winning Jennifer Decilveo alongside Brazilian-Venezuelan producer Alejandra Luciani, the album explores the global intersections of climate, water, and women’s voices.

Adding momentum to the release, Mhondoro will also receive a remix EP on May 25 in celebration of Africa Day. The project includes reinterpretations from Somali DJ and filmmaker Hibotep, Ugandan selector R3igndrops, Harare-based Afro-electronic producer Tapiwa, and a collaboration between multidisciplinary artist Shumba Maasai, British electronic duo Coldcut, and composer Aron Kyne.

The wider Flow project began in 2025 during COP30 in the Brazilian Amazon, where artists staged performances in climate policy spaces and public venues. Audiences quickly dubbed the collective the “Spice Girls of COP” for their vibrant, politically charged presence.

More than music, Flow will also soundtrack a documentary set for release in 2027, spotlighting frontline women navigating water crises across six countries. Together, the album and film aim to turn climate stories into emotional, human experiences proving that art can speak where policy often falls silent.

SHINGAI is a Zimbabwean-British singer, songwriter, and musician best known as the powerhouse vocalist and bassist of the multi-platinum indie rock band Noisettes. Dubbed ‘Best live act in Britain’ by The Guardian, her unmistakable voice defines anthems like “Never Forget You,” “Don’t Upset the Rhythm,” “Wild Young Hearts,” and Denis Ferrer’s house classic “Hey Hey.” In 2024, her breakout hit “Never Forget You” achieved Platinum certification—revived by a new generation on TikTok, where it amassed over 3 billion streams, a decade after its original release. ‘AncientFutures’ & ‘Too Bold’ were critically acclaimed releases on her own ‘Zimtron’ label which paved the way for creative ventures in Zimbabwe that would change the game and the narrative.