Ghorwane
Kudumba
Piranha, 1997
When this 11-piece dance band from Mozambique released their first international recording in 1994, they sounded a sweet sign of life from a land that had been brutalized by civil war for over 16 years. This follow-up, recorded in the Netherlands, continues the mood of celebration and uplift. Ghorwane are a classic African big band, omnivorous imitators who, for all their borrowings, can't help but sound original. The opening track marries South African jive and Zairean rumba, but the band's swinging horn section plainly distinguishes it from either genre. Ghorwane's adaptations of uniquely Mozambiquan rhythms ultimately define them, as in "Salabudê," a loping 6/8 number with a piano part that plays like a twisted Cuban montuno. Mozambique's Porguguese colonial past shines through in a distinctive Latin flavor, something deeper than the result of listening to a lot of Cuban records. The musicians sound sharper here than on the group's first release, and the arrangements have more clever touches, but from the luscious vocal harmonies, to the glistening guitar breaks, tripping percussion sections and warm horn fills, the magic here stems from the unmistakable intimacy that only a working band can deliver.
Sadly, the continent seems to produce fewer and fewer such groups in this era of singing stars, small combos, and studio artists. It's hard for such large African groups to tour--they virtually never come to the US anymore--so it seems a small miracle to discover one that still has the support, the resources and the will to keep developing and recording new material . The songs here are sung in Shangan and Ronga and explore post-war themes--the rediscovery of traditions, the need to air the painful experiences of war and the responsibilities that come with peace. Engaged and powerful, Ghorwane still live in the golden era of African pop and this recording lets us share in the glory.
Contributed by: Banning Eyre
Originally published in: Boston Phoenix
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