My Dream – African Sounds features songs composed by Mambazo founder, lead singer, and director Joseph Shabalala, and leader of the SABC Choir Thulasizwe Nkabinde.

Original Mambazo songs (such as "Iqome Kanjani", "Shintsha Sithothobala", and "Angimboni Ofana Naye") as well as SABC Choir standards (like "Plea for Africa", "Uhembelinye", and "Buya Lindiwe") are included on the album, which melds both Zulu vocal music (isicathamiya) – made famous by Mambazo – and gospel choral musics by having both groups sing each song together.

The one exception is "Okuhle Hle", sung entirely by Mambazo.

The album came together when Mambazo were on tour in the US in March 2007; South African Broadcasting Corporation executive Joyce Dube saw the group in a New York City performance and approached them with the idea of recording a gospel/traditional album with the SABC Choir.

[1] Arrangements were made, and the album began to come together a year later in the South African Downtown Studios.