Msafiri Zawose

Bio

Msafiri Zawose is a Gogo-fusion musician from Tanzania.

Gogo music derives its distinctive sound from the mixture of a variety of unique instruments and vocal harmonies indigenous to the Wagogo, an ethnic group that historically inhabited central Tanzania. Msafiri is a master of traditional Gogo instruments such as the limba (thumb piano), filimbi (flute), zeze (bowed/plucked lute), ngoma (hand drums), and marimba (xylophone).

Born into a family that honors tradition, Msafiri is the son and musical heir of Hukwe Zawose – a musical giant who was a founding member of Tanzania’s post-independence National Dance Troupe and who toured extensively as part of Peter Gabriel’s Real World roster in the 1980s and 1990s. Hukwe left a lasting legacy, but Msafiri has stepped into the limelight with his own take on traditional Gogo music, fused with a variety of contemporary influences. Performing solo or leading a larger ensemble, Msafiri has developed a compelling live act that balances virtuosic instrumental playing with rich, evocative vocals, electronics, and songwriting that effortlessly switches from deeply moving to joyously uplifting. Msafiri has toured extensively throughout the world having performed and led educational workshops in the Unites States, Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.

Having commercially released six full-length albums, Msafiri continues to tirelessly evolve his sound through a growing list of collaborations with a wide range of international labels, producers, and artists. In 2017, Msafiri’s album Uhamiaji was released on Soundway Records, an award-winning London-based independent record label. In January 2020, Msafiri and Penya, a UK-based electronic music quartet, released Penya na Msafiri Zawose with On the Corner Records, another London-based label. Msafiri and Penya have continued to collaborate as WEMA, a supergroup including New York producer Photay. WEMA’s self-titled, debut album is scheduled for release on April 29, 2022. The result of a separate collaboration in 2021, Dutch producer Feiertag and Msafiri's song “Trepidation” is featured on the soundtrack of FIFA 22, a video game published by Electronic Arts, one of the world’s major video game publishers.

Msafiri was a co-winner of the Beyond Music Project, a by-invitation social networking platform and musical collaboration project, in 2019, 2020, and 2021. Recently, Msafiri was nominated for the “Experimental Music” award at the 2021 Sondeka Awards as well as “Best Traditional Song of the Year” at the 2021 Tanzania Music Awards where he won “Best Male Traditional Musician.”

Posts

Msafiri Zawose's picture

Msafiri Zawose added 6 new tracks

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HALIKO CHIJENDE - ZAWOSE REUNION REHEARSAL 2023
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SAHANI YANGU - ZAWOSE REUNION REHEARSAL 2023
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MNYAMWANA - ZAWOSE REUNION REHEARSAL 2023
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"HADITHI" KUBWA KULIKO ZOTE - Official Lyrics Video
Msafiri Zawose's picture

Msafiri Zawose added 2 new tracks

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KIJANISHA
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MAJI NI UHAI
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Pongezi - Mama Samia
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Music

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SAHANI YANGU - ZAWOSE REUNION REHEARSAL 2023
01:31
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MNYAMWANA - ZAWOSE REUNION REHEARSAL 2023
04:45
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MDUO- ZAWOSE REUINION REHEARSAL 2023
05:26
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MBUKWA - ZAWOSE REUINION REHEARSAL 2023
06:47
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(MUHEME) WOMEN DRUM - ZAWOSE REUINION REHEARSAL 2023
07:17
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HALIKO CHIJENDE - ZAWOSE REUNION REHEARSAL 2023
07:27
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KIJANISHA
04:16
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MAJI NI UHAI
03:55
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Pongezi - Mama Samia
04:52
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HADITHI remix - ft Warriors from the East
04:13
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Sababa_Prod by Amam at ApF studio
03:27
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NIBEMBELEZE
03:18
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INZE - DEMO
03:49
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USHAMBA
05:30
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Simanzi
03:48
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Ilima
03:38
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Karibu Bagamoyo
03:43
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Jungle eXTasy feat. Msafiri Za
03:45
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Videos

"HADITHI" KUBWA KULIKO ZOTE - Official Lyrics Video
UK TOUR - ZEZE WARMING UP!
LEO LEO - Msafiri Zawose X T.Roy (Shaku Shaku Project)
Feiertag - Trepidation feat. Msafiri Zawose (FIFA 22 Official Soundtrack)
SABABA - NDANI YA MJI PEKEE DUNIANI WENYE MILIMA ILIYOKUTANA!!
SABABA - Wimbo wenye Taharuki Duniani!!
Msafiri Zawose ft Saranya - SABABA (Official Video)
Msafiri Zawose - TUPAMBANE Official Video
Mazingira Yetu (official Video 4K) - by Msafiri Zawose and Anna Saggi
SIMANZI by MSAFIRI ZAWOSE, OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO
Makanigale - Msafiri Zawose
Pole Pole live at the Total Refreshment Center (London, August 2017)
Msafiri Zawose - Asili Yangu (remix flan) Official Music Video
Bara la Africa - Msafiri Zawose with MuTa
Mbukwa ("Updates") Msafiri Zawose - Tanzania
Experience Tanzanian Culture w/ Msafiri Zawose!
"Kukaaya" live - Msafiri Zawose
Msafiri Zawose "Bembeleza Amani" with Banning Eyre and Connor Martinez
Msafiri Zawose "Mkungwe" Rehearsal
Msafiri Zawose and Anna Tocaj - Ndoto (Dream)

Photos

TZDar es Salaam, Tanzania
In operation since: 
2013

Contact

+255 719 678 771
Peter Breithaupt

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