Guest blog: Msafiri Zawose, Tanzanian Gogo musician

Sunflowerbee
Dec 15, 2019
2 min read

Updated: Jul 26, 2023

I’m thrilled and honoured to welcome Msafiri Zawose to my website blog.

The first time I saw Msafiri was at the 2017 Womad festival in the UK. He walked out onto the Charlie Gillett stage and delivered the most stunning solo set. I had never heard Gogo fusion music before and was mesmerised by his beautiful, soaring voice, his dancing, his traditional costume, and the unique sounds of the signature instruments he was playing.

Fortunately for us here in the UK, Msafiri followed up a few days later with a concert on the River Womad stage on London’s South Bank, and a gig at a fabulous intimate venue, Total Refreshment Centre in Hackney Downs.

In this, the first guest blog on my website, Msafiri talks about his music and the work he is doing to keep his cultural traditions alive.

Tanzanian Gogo musician Msafiri Zawose on the River Womad stage in London 2017

“I grew up in Tanzania in a large musical family of the Gogo ethnic group. Singing and playing instruments was an integral part of our lives. By the age of 13, I had learned all of the signature Gogo instruments and was touring throughout Tanzania. I made my international debut on a three-month tour of Japan with my father’s group Chibite.'

Gogo music draws heavily on the incorporation of multiple vocalists and a number of signature instruments. My particular style is an energising, lively Gogo fusion based on preserving tradition, but with a modern twist. Our instruments include the ilimba and the zeze, which are made by hand in Dodoma, Tanzania, using locally sourced materials.

I live in Bagamoyo on the coast, where I operate a recording studio and run a non profit organisation called Art Promoters Foundation. The Foundation is dedicated to preserving traditional music, dance and instrument-making via community outreach among young people.

I hope to have the opportunity to see some of you at one of my concerts in the future. We will share and celebrate together the rich Gogo heritage of my country!”