Hope is the keynote of Naomi Wachira’s self-titled debut album. To her credit, this Kenyan-born, Seattle-based singer/songwriter grounds her optimism in a sense of struggle and defiance that gives a sense of the distance she’s come in life. Wachira’s earnest, supple vocals—as well as her outspoken defense of human rights—invite comparisons to Miriam Makeba and Tracy Chapman. Her fluid guitar touch harks back to the rhythms of her African homeland as well as American folk and blues. Songs like “I’m Alive,” “Be OK," and “I Know” are courageous personal anthems that combine strong feelings with a deftly poetic sensibility. In “We Are in Trouble” and “I Am a Woman,” Wachira displays the ability to confront injustice head-on without descending into sloganeering. She matches a yearning for true love with a commitment to world transformation in “You Better” and “Burn Me.” Damien Jurado’s production is sparse and sympathetic, embellishing the songs with rippling percussion, moody cellos, and billowing background vocals at key moments. Wachira’s voice is confiding yet insistent, touching deep chords that transcend the boundaries that divide us.