Mozambique will host the 13th InterRegional Festival in 2011!

This year’s Music Crossroads InterRegional festival brought together some of the best up-and-coming young musicians in Southern Africa, representing Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe, as well as special guest bands from around the world. The festival was held for the third time in Tanzania from 16th to 18th July, celebrating 10 years of Music Crossroads in this country. As always, music and life skills workshops were run alongside the showcase.

At the ‘Grand Finale’, which took place on 17^th July at the Tasuba Theatre in the historical seaside village of Bagamoyo, vigorous band Club Shanga (read previous post) from Eastern Zimbabwe showed themselves deserving of this year's title and earned a European tour for next year! They will follow Nyali (Zambia) and Mokoomba (Zimbabwe) who have both successfully performed on international stages over the last two years.

There were some talented performances from the other nine competing bands at this year’s IRF edition, such as Lumumba Theatre - known for their theatrical performances and traditional dance music - and Twetulobo, a band which balances both traditional and modern styles.

Malawi was represented in the competition by Omafadar, an Afro-Jazz rhythms band, and Kula, a band juggling varied forms of music including jazz, blues and afrocentric, while Mozambique was well represented by last year's contenders Nandov and their counterparts Tudulos.

Zambia’s musical offering consisted of Afrocentric Band and Lubani. Both of the bands were tutored by renowned guitarist Jones Kabanga and most of the members made their international debut at this festival.

Aside from the winners Club Shanga, Zimbabwe was also represented this year by The Way band which put up an equally noticeable performance.

Throughout the competition festival revellers also had the chance to enjoy live appearances from guest artists Royale Echoes International (Ghana), Taiwa Jazz Band (South Africa), Body, Mind & Soul (Malawi – IRF 2007 winner), Ashimba (Tanzania), Bogus (Flanders, Belgium), RMS (Wallonia, Belgium) and The Naima Train (Sweden).

On Sunday 18^th, fresh winners Club Shanga moved the crowd at a chill-out concert in the Makumbusho Cultural Center, in Dar es Salaam. The show completed this African sound clash showcase which is the culmination of the year for the Music Crossroads program.

It also concludes this IRF 2010 blog, but stay tuned to the Music Crossroads’ webpage for more info as we are already looking forward to the next (13th) InterRegional Festival in Maputo, Mozambique, on September 2011!

Club Shanga, proud winners of the InterRegional Festival!

Like most of the 10 finalist bands, Club Shanga travelled a long way to impress the audience and jury at the long awaited 12th InterRegional Festival (IRF), in the historical seaside village of Bagamoyo (Tanzania).

Determined to overcome last year’s disappointment, when they locked themselves in their hotel room to cry after the IRF in Zambia, Club Shanga went on a 3000 km road trip sleeping three nights on a bus to get to this year’s venue.

Club Shanga wanted the title badly. One of their musicians, 25-year-old backing vocalist and percussionist Georgina Mutenda, made sure she was not left behind and took her three-month-old baby, Nicole, with her so that she could play with her group.

Their efforts were rewarded - from the moment they started playing at the Tasuba Theatre, the seven-piece group had the crowd moving to their vibrant music, which the band calls Afro Shangara!

Their contemporary take is strongly influenced by a traditional style of music from their region in the heart of Mashonaland East province (Marondera) of Zimbabwe, called Shangara. The band’s name also derives from this mixture of afrocentric music accompanied with melodious female voices.

On 17th July, after some talented performances from Omafadar Band (Malawi), Twetulobo (Tanzania), Nandov (Mozambique), The Way (Zimbabwe), Lubani (Zambia), Kula Band (Malawi), Lunumba Theatre Group (Tanzania), Afrocentric (Zambia), Tudulos (Mozambique) and Msafiri Zawose (Tanzania), it was sheer joy and tears of happiness this time for Club Shanga when they were announced winners!

The IRF jury, presided by Music Crossroads International Director Dag Franzén, motivated its decision by emphasizing Club Shanga’s “exceptionally strong vocals, beautiful songs, positive force and stage performance”.

That same night, when everyone else had left the venue, the band recorded some songs with producer Poney Gross, which will soon be available for listening on the Music Crossroads web page!

The band leader, Trust Matombo, stated that they are aiming high, pursuing their professional careers in music while encouraging youngsters and upcoming musicians to have pride in their own music, values and culture as Africans.

Formed in 2007, Club Shanga consists of Farai Baramasimbe (lead vocals), Georginah Mutenda (backing vocals and percussion), Perseverance Mataranyika (backing vocals and percussion), Trust Matombo (keyboards), Musa Maruva (lead guitar), Vongai Makonde (drums) and Aggabu T.Nyabinde (bass). They are a group of spirited and skilful artists, formed of 2 female and 5 male young musicians.

As part of the IRF prize, following Zambia's Nyali Band (winners of 2009), Club Shanga will be touring Europe during 2011. For more information, or if you would like to book the band for a festival, concert or workshop at a place near you, please contact:

Miguel Carvalho (communications@music-crossroads.net)