Maisha

Maisha is an exquisite debut of originals that vividly bring to life the music of the Gogo (also Wagogo) people from Tanzania’s Dodoma region. The Zawose Queens are Pendo and Leah Zawose, the daughter and granddaughter of the late Hukwe Zawose (a fellow Real World labelmate). Having been previously relegated to the background, Maisha marks the first release where the Zawose women take centre stage, and it is outstanding. Co-produced by Oli Barton-Wood (Obongjayar) and Tom Excell (Nubiyan Twist, Onipa), the music marries traditional Gogo music with subtle electronic elements, creating a soundscape that is both authentic and contemporary (this was part of a British Council-funded initiative aimed at blending traditional sounds with modern beats). The tracks definitely recall elements of their brother/uncle Msafiri’s Uhamiaji but have an earthier quality, feeling somehow more grounded. The electronic elements are subtle, offering the music a wider appeal, but the stars of the show are really the Queens’ voices and the traditional chizeze (fiddle), illimba (thumb piano) and ngoma drums. There’s a strong connection to the traditional music, but all 11 tracks are originals. The title-track is an absolute banger, driven by the illimba that belongs on any world-wise dancefloor and its lyrics are highly relatable (‘hustling is hard, work is hard, life is also hard’). Other standout tracks include ‘Fahari Yetu’, celebrating Gogo traditions, ‘Sauti Ya Mama’, a heartfelt ode to motherly love recorded live on a Zanzibari hotel rooftop, ‘Lulelule’ which showcases the voice of elder Baba Leah (Leah’s father), and ‘Masanja Kalila’, a song about missing home with the delightful lyrics ‘an onion is a vegetable… when mixed with meat it is still a vegetable.’ More than gifting us an album of unique and too little-known East African music, Leah and Pendo are setting an inspiring example for other female artists. Long live The Queens.