Zimbabwe’s Mokoomba to light up LoS

From one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the world, Victoria Falls, held six young musicians bursting with youthful exuberance that spurts with natural talent and contagious rhythms.

The quintet, called Mokoomba, derive their name from the cultural activities that take place along the Zambezi River.

As the waterfall and the river continue to be part of the African story attracting millions of tourists, so is the fount that sprang onto the music scene in 2004.

Since winning the Music Crossroads Inter-regional Festival Competition in Malawi in 2008, Mokoomba’s journey has been successful, having toured 60 countries.

They are Zimbabwe’s next generation musicians and they mainly sing in Tonga, the main language spoke in Victoria Falls.

Mokoomba’s music combines these traditional music, fusing the rhythms of modern Afro-fusion energy and the diverse cultural influences of southern Africa.

On this weekend, the band returns to Malawi to perform at the Lake of Stars festival at Sunbird Nkopola.

This will be the third time the band performs in Malawi after the Music Crossroads competition and their maiden appearance at LoS in 2010.

The band has been together for slightly over 10 years and boasts of a strong bond that has the members growing together like brothers.

But it was after winning the Music Crossroads competition that the band shot into the limelight and in the last couple of years, they have exploded onto the world stage, delighting different audiences with their youthful exuberance, musical brilliance and slick dance routines.

Mokoomba recorded their first album Kweseka in 2009 before releasing an EP titled Umvundla in 2011. The following year, Mokoomba launched their second album Rising Tide which stamped the already defined kind of music the band does.

Mutori explained that their decision to sing in Tonga arises from a need to preserve their culture through music.

“Ours is Afro-fusion music where traditional rhythm meets the contemporary sound to come up with something that appeals to different people. We strive to have a lot of entry points to a diverse audience,” he said.

Lead singer Mathias Muzaza is impressive with his mastery of different African languages that he so uniquely demonstrates through his songs.

With Coster Moyo on drums, Trustworth Samende on lead guitar, Donald Moyo on keyboards, Miti Mugande on percussion and Mutori bass guitar, LoS patrons are set to enjoy the night. n