Monoswezi

Last updated
Monoswezi
20141206-Penang Island Jazz Festival - Bay view Beach Resort2451 (16000430222).jpg
20141206-Penang Island Jazz Festival – Bay view Beach Resort2451
Background information
OriginMozambique, Norway, Sweden, Zimbabwe
Genres
Years active2008 – present
Labels Riverboat Records
MembersHope Masike
Calu Tsemane
Hallvard Godal
Putte Johander
Erik Nylander
Website www.monoswezi.com

Monoswezi is a trans-national music collective composed of Hope Masike (voice, mbira, percussion), Calu Tsemane (voice, percussion), Hallvard Godal (saxophone, clarinet, harmonium), Putte Johander (bass), and Erik Nylander (drums, percussion). [1] The band's name is a portmanteau from the first few letters of the members’ respective nationalities: Mozambique, Norway, Sweden and Zimbabwe. Monoswezi is also a combination of the Greek word “mono”, meaning “one”, and “swezi”, which means “world” in a native South African dialect. [2] Their music has been classified as a fusion between Scandinavian and African music, under the expansive “jazz” umbrella. [3]

Contents

The band was born out of a cultural exchange program between Africa and Norway back in 2008, [4] when Godal lived in Mozambique and met Tsemane. Soon after, Tsemane and Masike connected with Godal back in Norway and began making music together. [5] Since then the band has produced 3 albums under Riverboat Records and tours internationally. [4] Their first album, The Village, was nominated for the Songlines Music Awards in 2014. [6] [7]

Discography

Albums

Notes

    References

    1. "Monoswezi Official Website Bio". Monoswezi. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
    2. Caldwell, Rob. "Monoswezi: Monoswezi Yanga". All About Jazz. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
    3. Pontecorvo, Adriane. "Monoswezi: A Je". Pop Matters. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
    4. 1 2 "Scandinavian-African band to perform today". Indian Express Group. The Indian Express. 9 November 2017. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
    5. "Band blends African, Scandinavian music". CNN. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
    6. "Monoswezi Official Website Reviews". Monoswezi. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
    7. "Monoswezi – The Village". World Music Network. Retrieved 21 July 2018.