Pendo and Leah Zawose – The Zawose Queens and their band showcase the singing and rhythms of the Gogo (aka Wagogo) people of the arid, hilly Dodoma region of central Tanzania, they are joining us on their UK tour. The most famous exponent of this musical tradition is the late, great Dr Hukwe Zawose (Pendo’s father and Leah’s grandfather).

There is spirit and fire in their music, there’s the vibrations of the ancestors, coming through on traditional instruments — soaring chizeze fiddle, buzzing illimba thumb piano, ngoma drums that chatter and thunder — and voices that go deep, high and out there. There’s the connection to nature, to ceremony and ritual, in their dance-inspired fusion, their blend of the organic, harmonic and modern-day electronic. There are lyrics that tell, in their native kigogo, of the passion for music, the wonders of life. Of pride in environment, in tradition. In their East African roots. Their debut album Maisha marks the first time that women from this famous musical family take their place as lead vocalists and performers. They have performed at Glastonbury, Africa Oye and WOMAD this year and we are excited to add them to our weekend of mainly women-led acts.

“The sheer vocal power of the duo is arresting, a shifting polyphony primarily addressing family and domestic affairs; this is the first time women in Gogo music have been allowed to write their own stories… Stirring Stuff” – The Guardian