For the most part, album reviews and music criticism are self indulgent pursuits. It is the interpretation of an artist's story, not necessarily about them but a story nonetheless, through the critic's lens of understanding. The production and sound engineering aspects aside, we are often inserting ourselves in between artists and consumers as interpreters. Often to languages we don't quite grasp yet, because artists are always creating something new.
Yet sometimes they are artists that make this pursuit of understanding worthwhile. For the music journalist it is more than just going through the motions but a sonic experience that drives us to invite others to share in the indulgence. In the vast landscape of Zimbabwean music, Tamy Moyo is one such artist.
While not yet 30, the singer can already be described as a legacy act. The discography she's delivered beautifully balances artistry and experimentation, and whether it's recency bias or the singer's consistency, each new album she releases feels like her best work yet. This can be said of Royalty, Tamy Moyo's fourth studio album, an embrace of healing, heritage and the pinnacles of African pop stardom that the singer has reached. It arrived riding on the wings of the Royalty Trilogy, a trio of performances Tamy delivered on the 6th, 13th and 25th of December 2025.
There are hints of the soulful to album's musical alchemy, a bit of the yanos (both in production and features), dendera and sungura's distinctive guitar riffs, a leaning towards the traditional and an embrace of the flirtatious relationship Tamy Moyo enjoyed with Zimdancehall. While the tentacles of genre spread in different directions, the album is bound together by Tamy Moyo's vocals. Royalty is how Tamy Moyo sees herself, yet she is both queen and the royal court's most sought after bard.
"Tenda" launches Tamy Moyo's most recent chapter with an expression of gratitude and a celebration of overcoming of obstacles. This cascades into the dancehall laden "Haiwa," an anthem of self belief that pays homage to Soul Jah Love. What follows is a shift in gear, as Tamy and Musa Keys' velvety vocals are brought to the fore on " Muroora."
Royalty sees tales of love ("Chinono Remix," "Moyo Wangu," "Kudanana") moving in tandem with celebrations of cultural heritage ("Maitiro") and embraces of self ("Ihombe"). Yet the subject matter doesn't feel as important as how it's delivered. While Bold, the singer's preceding album, was littered with pop sensibilities that could easily be found on any global chart, Royalty feels more grounded in Zimbabwean sonic inspirations.
Within it the journey from The 18th Rollercoaster, to Bvudzijena, to Bold is present to see. A web encompassing all the sounds she's pursued and how her writing has been shaped over the years. Added to by Rodney Beatz and Clef Jones on the production, with a supporting cast of Musa Keys, Jah Prayzah, Delroy Shewe, Mr Brown, Jnr Spragga, Mnqobi Yazo and Aubrey Qwana.
There is a glass ceiling that hovers above women in the Zimbabwean music industry, however in both the product she offers within the studio and on stage, Tamy might just be close to shattering it.
"Every late night, every doubt, every breakthrough led me here. This project carries the softness, the strength, the lessons, and the woman I’m still becoming. I poured everything into it— the heart, the healing, the hunger." - Tamy Moyo
Greedysouth rating: 7.5/10