Marrabenta Music From Mozambique

It is an unfortunate fact that many of Mozambique’s best musicians live abroad. There are few recording opportunities in the capital, Maputo, and it is little surprise that this rare marrabenta release should be made by musicians living over the border in South Africa. Marrabenta is the great dance music of urban Mozambique, a sound that combines traditional Ronga and Shangaan elements with Portuguese folk music, Angolan merengue and salsa by way of Brazil. The name derives from the Portuguese word rebentar (to break): the story goes that the original marrabenta musicians would play their oil–can guitars until the strings broke.

Among the great, little–recorded marrabenta pioneers of the 1960s were Xidimingwana and Francesco Mahecuane, and this album features songs written by both. Its title is not misleading: this is proper, old–fashioned marrabenta. It is an unusual project for the likes of Yinguica: singer and guitarist Julio Sigauque is a member of innovative Cape Town popsters Freshlyground, and both bassist Helder Gonzaga and drummer Tony Paco play with well–known fusion outfit Tucan Tucan. On Marrabenta, however, you feel that they are on their home ground. ‘Moda Xicavalo’ is a masterclass in fluid, tripping marrabenta guitar, while ‘Ni Nhi Me Le’ is a percussion workout by the experts – right up there with Massukos’s ‘Akwekwe.’ This album may not be breaking down barriers, but it is beautifully played and beautifully produced, and that whiff of nostalgia fits it to a tee.