Massada

Formed in Huizen in the Netherlands in 1973, Massada coalesced around musicians from the Moluccan community, with Johnny Manuhutu among its key figures. Massada’s sound mixes Latin rock, jazz fusion and funk with the rhythmic heritage of the Moluccas, in a lineup where percussion plays a central role alongside electric guitars, keyboards and very melodic vocals. Present on the Dutch scene from the mid-1970s, Massada developed a repertoire that alternates concise songs with more open instrumental passages, and that emphasizes a collective, ensemble approach in concert. This identity is evident on several notable albums from their early period—Pukul Tifa (1979), Pusaka (1980) and Baru (1981)—which extend the encounter between Latin groove, rock and Moluccan traditions. Over time Massada has maintained this distinctive aesthetic within the Dutch musical landscape, circulating a repertoire in which Caribbean influences, rock energy and the Moluccan cultural memory intersect.