Million Isaac Junior is a young gospel singer with an impressive vocal range. His wish is that Mozambique be blessed with peace and he wants his fellow citizens to feel love through his music. He spoke to us about the harsh reality of being an unemployed subsistence farmer in Furancungo, like most of the young men in the area. For updates like us on www.facebook.com/wiredforsoundsa or visit www.wiredforsound.co.za

Million Isaac Junior - Thikukulola

Marcelino Banda Mpombeza is a 25 year old from Furancungo in Mozambique, and has a beautifully raw, full voice. He has more of a traditional style but pushed his musical boundaries while recording, and this song shows off his talent. He sings about a father warning his daughter to protect her reputation- warning her not to go out after dark or be seen with too many men. For more info go to www.wiredforsound.co.za

Marcelino Banda Mpombeza - Cinyungwe

Harry Potter (aka Genitomolava Molava) is a 24 year old ‘tour guide’ from the harbor town of Nacala, Ilha de Mozambique. He has taught himself several languages by guiding and befriending tourists on the island. He is a jack of many trades but has always wanted to make a name for himself by rapping in Macua. He wrote a song about keeping his ancestry alive, acknowledging what his grandfather did for Mozambique and the traditions young people are tasked with preserving today. The island has a rich Arabic history and you can hear the sounds of this history in Harry’s voice and music. For more info visit www.wiredforsound.co.za

Harry Potter - Moçambique Elelo

Mateus Mapinhane Charles is a singer and teacher at the local school in Catandica, but his dream is to focus on music. He has set up a production studio at home where he records music for other local musicians and shoots music videos for them in his backyard, all done on his hand held digicam. Mapinhane’s music is influenced by the Chimurenga style music of neighbouring Zimbabwe.   

Massimba Lanfa Mavano is Mapinhane's guitarist. He also sings and the song we recorded with him was about how the local churches take advantage of people and their money. Even though he doesn’t own a guitar, Massimba is an outstanding player in the style of Sungura/Chimurenga. He uses a matchstick as a pick strum and it sounds magic. For more info visit www.wiredforsound.co.za 

Mateus Mapinhane Charles & Massimba Lanfa - Mazano

John Issa Band have, over the last decade living in the Niassa Reserve, put together a five-piece outfit, quite literally. The drum kit is made up of yellow plastic fuel jerry cans, with two microphones consisting of a hairdryer and old speaker head stuck into an extended loudhailer-shaped cone. Two electric guitars and a bass have been fashioned out of solid pieces of wood, bicycle brake wires and pot lids, which are linked via simple pickups direct to a collection of radio hi-fis. They scored the album cover shot! Visit www.wiredforsound.co.za for more info

John Issa Band - Matabixo

Mdy-k Raisse O Tesouro (20) and Flay C Gazua Gazua (21) are students who at the time of recording were in their final year of school in Pemba. They also worked as street hawkers for Movitel (one of the major cell phone providers in Mozambique). The song they co-wrote and recorded with us unravels the reality and horror of domestic violence in Mozambique. They call on women and families to be courageous and stand up against domestic abuse. Flay –C wants to pursue a career in music once he has completed his studies and Mdy-k hopes to become a doctor. Their influences are hip-hop artists from Mozambique, Angola and Tanzania. Visit www.wiredforsound.co.za for more info

Mdk & Flay-C - Domestic Violence

Augusto Manejo is a renowned mbira player in Catandica. He plays the mbira nyunga nyunga. Attaching decorative bottle tops to the edge of these instruments is popular in Mozambique and creates a tinny distortion. Visti www.wiredforsound.co.za for more info

Augusto Manejo - Mbira

Dumba Women’s Group are a traditional singing and dancing group made up of women of all ages, from young teenage girls to grandmothers. Their dances and songs have been passed down through maternal lines for generations and date back to the days of slavery. This song is a celebratory song, which was often performed during the colonial period when a member of the family returned after working away from his loved ones for an extended period of time. Today it is used to celebrate achievements, to wish people good luck and most importantly to celebrate unity. Visit www.wiredforsound.co.za for more info

Dumba Women's Group

Quite literally four schoolboys from the Mbonje Village; Berto, Domingoes, Antonio, and Riquotto, who sing here about the prevention of HIV/Aids. Through music, they urge young people to be sexually safe and get tested for HIV. Their influences are the hip-hop stars of Tanzania, Angola and Mozambique. Visit www.wiredforsound.co.za for more info


Four Boys Mbonje - SIDA (AIDS)

Inez Manuel Sezarinho is an aspiring journalist. She is passionate about gender equality, and believes that women are still sidelined in Mozambique despite new legislation introduced in the nineties that has had a positive effect and seen more women appointed to positions of leadership. The problem remains rife in rural areas due to limited access to education. The song she recorded was about a young woman with two children who finds out her husband has another wife and family - it is the story of her neighbour. Visit www.wiredforsound.co.za for more info

Inez - Mama

Marlo lives in Mbonje village about two hours outside of Pemba. He is blind and plays ‘Rebecca’, his Pankwé style instrument, along with his percussionist drummer ze Batista. Visit www.wiredforsound.co.za for more info  

Malo - Rebecca

Mateus Mapinhane Charles is a singer and teacher at the local school in Catandica, but his dream is to focus on music. He has set up a production studio at home where he records music for other local musicians and shoots music videos for them in his backyard, all done on his hand held digicam. Mapinhane’s music is influenced by the Chimurenga style music of neighbouring Zimbabwe. This is a song about a witch!  Visit www.wiredforsound.co.za for more info

Mateus Mapinhane Charles - Muloi

The Mapiko Youth Drumming and Singing Group are based on Ibo Island. As far as we know the word ‘Mapiko’ means mask making, shape shifting and wonder in Mozambique. It refers to a style of singing, dance (performed with masks) and drumming that has a very different rhythm and timing to western styles. The offbeat and rapid drumming give the song an enrapturing edge. The group was made up of high school girls and boys who meet on an old basketball court on the island to practice in the evenings. The drums were tuned on a fire made on the side of the court. Visit www.wiredforsound.co.za for more info


Mapiko Drumming Group - Trad.

Episode 1: Audio documentary exploring Wired for Sound's trip through Mozambique August-September 2013; a mobile studio working with community radio and musicians, with Freshlyground musicians Simon Attwell and Julio Sigauque, and hosted by radio producer Kim Winter.

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