The Zawose family, or clan, rather, is the collective progeny and relatives of the internationally renowned Wagogo musician, Hukwe Zawose. Recognized for his talent by Tanzania’s first president, Julius Nyerere, while on a trip around his newly independent nation, Zawose was brought from Dodoma to Dar es Salaam to play his traditional music. After several albums and many years later, Zawose caught the eye of Peter Gabriel, who produced his final three albums on his Real World record label. It’s fair to say that Hukwe Zawose introduced Wagogo music, certainly the most unique music in Tanzania, to the world.

When Hukwe passed away in 2003 he left not only an impressive body of work and an important musical legacy, but a family of around twenty children from four different mothers to carry on his work. What’s more is that he taught his children everything about their traditional music; how to sing in perfect harmony, play their songs, and also make all of the instruments that comprise the Wagogo musical repertoire. Now Hukwe’s children have many children of their own, and the music continues to be passed on through the chain generations within this talented family.

Gogo music is famous for its unique vocal harmonies and instruments including marimba (balafon), zeze (Gogo two-stringed violin), irimba (pentatonically tuned thumb piano) and ngoma (different types of traditional drums). What also makes the music extra special is the singing which is so haunting and captivating - it doesn’t matter if you don’t understand the language, the power is in its intensity of feeling. Also spectacular in Chibite’s performance is the dancing, mainly done by women, doing elegant shoulder and neck movements.

With resounding harmony and unmistakable confidence, the Zawose family embodies a wealth of cultural knowledge that seems harder and harder to find within an increasingly globalized Africa. Brothers sing with sisters, fathers with daughters, children follow along and learn the old ways, as they are shown how to drum, dance and sing by their proud and patient elders.