The Zawose Queens – ancestral traditions resonating through traditional instruments, but above all through their amazing singing. In every note, you can feel a connection with nature, ancient ceremonies, and rituals. The lyrics in their native Kigogo language tell of a passion for music, the joy of life, and pride in the traditions and roots of East Africa. All of this is contagiously danceable.

Forty years ago, Tanzanian musician and activist Dr. Hukwe Zawose introduced traditional music from central Tanzania to the world with three albums released on Peter Gabriel’s Real World label. The core of the current The Zawose Queens consists of musicians, singers, and dancers Leah Zawose and Pendo Zawose – the granddaughter and daughter of Hukwe Zawose. Their debut album Maisha (Real World 2024, as family tradition dictates), which combines the traditional Wagogo style with subtle electronic production, immediately earned them invitations to the most prestigious festivals, including Glastonbury, Womad, and Womex.

However, The Zawose Queens not only bring the unmistakable ecstatic polyphonic singing and polyrhythms of Gogo (Wagogo) from the hilly region of Dodoma in central Tanzania, but also a fundamental breakthrough on a social level – originally, women were only allowed to sing accompanying harmonies in traditional music, and The Zawose Queens broke this taboo.