Tanzania’s Msafiri Zawose has been one of the
biggest slept-on musical forces from the region. That’s about to change with
the imminent arrival of a new album that will redefine the boundaries of gogo
music.
The Wagogo people are his traditionally nomadic
tribe from the center of Tanzania, known for their musicality and made famous
by Hukwe Zawose - Msafiri’s father, who toured the world as a part of Peter
Gabriel’s Real World roster in the 80s and 90s. Working with Santuri East
Africa, the much respected platform that has been responsible for some of the
most interesting collaborations coming out of East Africa in recent years, the
son continues his eminent father’s journey.
In August 2016, Santuri traveled to Bagamoyo on
the Tanzanian coast with SoundThread’s Sam Jones, whose recent works with
Orlando Julius and remixes for Mugwsia International and Sarabi have been
rapturously received.
Laying down the foundations of the album over
two weeks, Zawose and Jones developed a working relationship that was highly
charged - their mutual respect for each others talents allowing them to work
through difficult periods - hewing the raw materials into the hypnotic,
revelatory material shared here. The process was never easy, but Msafiri was
driven to explore new forms for traditional music, much as his father had with
2002’s experimental collaboration with ambient / electronica producer Michael
Brook on the album Assembly.
The tracks assembled here have been created within
a deeply collaborative process, primarily in person, and then via endless back
and forth online between Jones’ studio in London and Zawose’s compound in
Bagamoyo. Set to be completed in London in November when Msafiri visits the UK,
the music here remains profoundly gogo, but is infused with a organic
electronic aesthetic brought about by Jones’ exceptional production and feeling
for textures. The tracks give off a borderless feeling, soaking up influences
from across the globe - an afro-futurist journey that takes in dub, balearic,
ambient and electronic vibrations alongside Zawose’s hypnotic playing and
emotive, plaintive vocals.
1. "Nzala Urugu"
2. "Pole Pole"
3. "Chibitenyi"
4. "Nosaga"
5. "Kunyemo"
6. "Mbeleko"
7. "Tamaduni"
8. "Tusife Majanga"
9. "Mazingira"
10. "Mdara"
11. "Mashariki Ya Mbali"
12. "Malugaro"
13. "Hali Halisi"
Fuente:
https://d3kdsn8w8659vg.cloudfront.net/Media/Sample/SWR_RE_128/NzalaUrugu.mp3
Fuente:
https://d3kdsn8w8659vg.cloudfront.net/Media/Sample/SWR_RE_128/NzalaUrugu.mp3
