Mozambique

Here are a couple fine examples of marrabenta. Marrabenta is a popular style of Mozambican dance music. It was developed in the 1930s & 1940s in southern Mozambique, in the capital city of Maputo. Maputo's relationship with South Africa was comparable to Havana's reputation as a ‘casino hotspot’ for the inhabitants of Miami before the Cuban Revolution. The marrabenta is a colonial mix of international pop music with a Brazilian tinge.

The name derives from the Portuguese rebentar (which became arrabentar in the local Mozambican vernacular), which means ‘to break’. This may be a reference to the cheap musical instruments used in this music, which were often played so energetically that the strings broke or they fell apart, or according to vocalist Dilon Djindje, the intensity & vitality of the live performances led audiences to believe that the musicians were ‘breaking’ the emotional limits of the audience. The musicians who played this music came to be called Mozambican arrabenta, or simply Marrabenta.

 Grupo Bayette – Georgina, Decca Estereo SPEP 1407, 1972.

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Side 1 –

Georgina

Avassati Va Lomu

Side 2 –

Ava Ka-Machava

Viva Jesu

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Moisés Ribeiro is the sole survivor of the original Orquestra Djambo. He is a Mozambican music icon. The original band formed in the 50s, with: Moisés – lead guitar; Mabombo - piano; Jose Mondlane – drums; Assam – lead trumpet; José Manuel – second trumpet; James Bila – trombone; & Ussufo – saxophone.

 Orquestra Djambo – Marrabenta, Alvorada, 1969.

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Side 1 –

Elisa Gomara Saia

Bambatela Sabado

Side 2 –

Laurinda

Xinwanana

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Here is some early 1980s neo-traditional Shangaan music from Banda Six. This is their first album.

Mofene David Sitoe, the guitarist, vocalist, & principal artist behind Banda Six, was born in Chibuto near Maputo in Mozambique. He made is first recordings for Radio Mozambique in 1964.

Shangaan or now more correctly Tsonga or Xitsonga is spoken predominantly in Southern & Central Mozambique especially around Maputo & in the eastern part of South Africa’s most northern province Limpopo, roughly around the Kruger National Park region. Shangaan Electro is a blend of traditional Shangaan music with super fast electronic beats coupled with some insane dance rhythms.

Neo-traditional Shangaan music generally consists of a circular structure featuring call & response vocals often with a male lead & a female response chorus together with a guitar & several percussive instruments.

 Banda Six - MbilwiniYamina, Motella BL 343, 1982. 

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Side One –

Xitimela Xanisiya

Mbilwini Yamina

Uvuya Uyo Shama Tihamela

Usiwana David

Asilunganga

Kamakhalawane

Side Two –

Rosa Na Maganda

He Bila Woya Kwihi

Miyela Muranziwa

Woyala Madalena

Atalia mungani Wamina

Hayala Kumandwa

Enjoy,

NØ