Maisha, by The Zawose Queens

Maisha

by The Zawose Queens

supported by

Andrew Jervis Fantastic blend of cultures and styles, pure ear candy.

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Streaming + Download

Pre-order of Maisha. You get 1 track now (streaming via the free Bandcamp app and also available as a high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more), plus the complete album the moment it’s released.

Purchasable with gift card

releases June 7, 2024

£7 GBP or more
Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album
Includes digital pre-order of Maisha. You get 1 track now (streaming via the free Bandcamp app and also available as a high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more), plus the complete album the moment it’s released.

shipping out on or around June 7, 2024

Purchasable with gift card

£10 GBP or more
Record/Vinyl + Digital Album
Includes digital pre-order of Maisha. You get 1 track now (streaming via the free Bandcamp app and also available as a high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more), plus the complete album the moment it’s released.

shipping out on or around June 7, 2024

Purchasable with gift card

£20 GBP or more

1.	Kuseka
2.	Maisha 05:00	buy track
3.	Dunia Hii
4.	Lulelule
5.	Fahari Yetu
6.	Mapendo
7.	Kusakala Kwenyungu
8.	Sauti Ya Mama
9.	Muheme
10.	Masanja Kalila
11.	Chidodo

about

There is spirit and fire in the music of The Zawose Queens. There's the vibrations of the ancestors, coming through on traditional instruments — soaring chizeze fiddle, buzzing illimba thumb piano, ngoma drums that chatter and thunder — and voices that go deep, high and out there. There's the connection to nature, to ceremony and ritual, in their dance-inspired fusion, their blend of the organic, harmonic and modern-day electronic. There are lyrics that tell, in their native kigogo, of the passion for music, the wonders of life. Of pride in environment, in tradition. In their East African roots.

Pendo and Leah Zawose showcase the fluid polyrhythms and rapturous polyphonic singing of the Gogo (aka Wagogo) people of the arid, hilly Dodoma region of central Tanzania. The most famous exponent of this musical tradition is the late, great Dr Hukwe Zawose (Pendo’s father and Leah’s grandfather).

Maisha, the debut album by The Zawose Queens, marks the first time that women from this famous musical family take their place as lead vocalists and performers. Emboldened by workshops in songwriting and music production with visiting UK-based producers Oli Barton-Wood (Jordan Rakei, Obongjayar, Nilufer Yanya) and Tom Excell (Nubiyan Twist, Onipa), The Zawose Queens began writing their first ever songs. The resulting collection of songs range from the stripped back and traditional-sounding to those treated with subtle electronic elements, with beats and drops and found sounds and switch-ups.

credits

releases June 7, 2024

Produced, recorded and mixed by Oli Barton-Wood & Tom Excell

Recorded at makeshift studios and on the beach in Bagamoyo, Tanzania; on the rooftop of a hotel in Stone Town, Zanzibar and at Little Legs Studios in Peckham, London.

January 2019 and February-April 2020

Mastered by Felix Davis at Metropolis, London

First and foremost, we express our gratitude to Sister Aziza Ongala for accepting us, connecting us with various artists, choosing to work with us, and inspiring the idea to record our album called "Maisha" (Life). We also thank Pepe Waziri, for supporting us on this recording journey, dedicating significant time to guide us in this endeavor.

Our appreciation extends to Tom and Oli for being with us in this recording process, serving as producers on the "Maisha" album, infusing different elements into our music, and bringing forth a unique flavour. Special thanks to Brother Ambasa Mandera for providing excellent song writing ideas and encouragement, as well as Ambrose Akula Akwabi for preparing us for the live shows.

We acknowledge Wamwiduka Band for their participation in adding vocals and instruments to our song "Chidodo." We are grateful to Mzee Ndahani for supporting us in singing and incorporating musical instruments into our album. Our heartfelt thanks go to our mothers for their unwavering support and valuable ideas in composing this album including Big Mama who was on hand to babysit Yusuf while we worked. We appreciate everyone and love you all.

Thanks also to Katie Weatherall, The British Council, Sue Huxtable, André Marmot

A Real World Design
Graphic design by Derek Edwards
Photography by Michael Mbwambo, Dar es Salaam, 2023
www.michaelm.photography

Published by Real World Works Ltd/Domino Publishing/Faber Alt Music Publishing

license

about

The Zawose Queens Bagamoyo, Tanzania

Pendo and Leah Zawose showcase the fluid polyrhythms and rapturous polyphonic singing of the Gogo (aka Wagogo) people of the arid, hilly Dodoma region of central Tanzania.

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