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Mokoomba is a band from Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. The six-piece band sings in Tonga (one of the lesser known languages and cultures of Zimbabwe), fusing it with: keyboards, percussion and drums, bass guitar and a dynamic showcase of Tonga-made instruments like Jemba (drums), whistle and bell as well as an array of other indigenous instruments.

2008 to Date
Following their victory at the Music Crossroads Inter-regional Festival in 2008 in Malawi, Mokoomba recorded their first album titled Kweseka “Drifting Ahead” which was followed up by a tour Europe in 2009 (October-November). During their first tour band performed at the European Development Days awards ceremony in Stockholm and the EEN/GAAP Stand UP Make Poverty History Campaign launch concert. They also launched the song Messe Messe (a collaboration between Mokoomba and Dutch house producer Gregor Salto funded  by Africa Unsigned) which topped dance music charts like FunX. The year 2010 was good for the young band starting with performances at Harare International Festival of the Arts in collaboration with Manou Gallo (Ivory Coast/Belguim) and the Chimanimani Arts Festival before leaving for Europe in June. Highlights were performances at the Afrika Festival – Netherlands, Festival Musicale del Mediterraneo –Italy, Couleur Café Festival – Belgium, Colours of Ostrava Festival – Austria, San Marino Festival – Italy, Festival Pirinoes – Spain, Imagine Festival – Norway, ME YOU ZIK Festival – Luxemburg and the Rock um Knuelder Festival- Luxemburg. In October they played at the Lake of Stars Festival in Malawi were Zimbabwean superstar Oliver Mtukudzi headlined. In 2011, Mokoomba has recorded their (12 track) second album being produced by Manou Gallo (Ivory Coast/Belgium) and Zig Zag World plus they reached their "crowd funding" target on Africa Unsigned which will see them do another collaboration with Gregor Salto. A documentary titled "Mokoomba d'une rive à l'autre" by Frank Dalmat and Francis Ducat has also been released. It tells the story of Mokoomba addressing the relationship between culture and economic development in the south.

Band Members
Mathias Muzaza - lead vocals

Trustwoth Samende – lead guitar

Ndaba Costa Moyo – drums

Miti Mugande – percussion

McDonald Moyo – keyboard

Abundance Mutori – bass guitar



Listening
http://www.afropop.org/radio/radio_program/ID/818/

http://www.ciut.fm/index.php/shows-2/howl/