Ghorwane

Founded in Maputo in 1983, Ghorwane occupies an important place in the history of Mozambican marrabenta, blending it with afropop, the country’s traditional musics and a more fusion-oriented approach driven by guitars, saxophones and percussion. The group sings in several local languages, notably Shangaan, Ronga and Chope, and has developed a sound that is both rooted in Maputo’s urban life and connected to older musical forms. Ghorwane takes its name from a lake in Gaza Province, a designation given to the band in the mid-1980s. Key releases in their discography include Majurugenta (1993), Kudumba (1997) and Vana Va Ndota (2005). The band’s history was also marked by the deaths of its composer and saxophonist José “Zeca” Alage, who was killed in 1993, and later Pedro Langa; Vana Va Ndota is dedicated to them. Active on both the Mozambican and international scenes, Ghorwane was also associated with the Real World label, which helped bring their music beyond Mozambique.