RISING Victoria Falls Afro-fusion band Mokoomba has been tipped to be the “African band to watch this summer” by top CNN anchor Becky Anderson.
ENTERTAINMENT REPORTER
Mokoomba broke new ground on Wednesday by appearing on CNN’s Preview by Becky Anderson programme. The band yesterday said the appearance on CNN was a milestone for them in light of their humble beginnings.
“What was very exciting about the CNN feature was that it was an opportunity for us to showcase our exciting music and stage act which gives other people an insight into the vibrant Tonga and Lubale traditions where we come from,” Abundance Mutori, Mokoomba’s bass player and spokesperson said. “It also positively highlights our hometown Victoria Falls, a major tourist destination hosting the United Nations World Tourism Organisation conference as well our beautiful country”
Mokoomba is currently on a 16-country European summer tour, which began on May 12 and will end on August 18 2013. This tour will see Mokoomba performing at some of Europe’s biggest music festivals like Roskilde (Denmark), Paleo Festival (Switzerland), Sziget Festival( Hungary) and Womad (UK) to mention a few.
CNN, which reaches millions of viewers in about 200 countries worldwide, caught up with Mokoomba performing at Roskilde Festival in Denmark which had American star Rihanna as the head-line act this year.
Mokoomba is one of Africa’s most internationally successful young bands. It was formed in 2007 in Victoria Falls.
Musically distinct, Mokoomba combines traditional and modern instruments to create a vibrant sound with a rich blend of rhythms, consisting not only of Tonga traditional music, but embracing the diverse music cultures of Southern Africa.
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Since winning the Music Crossroads Inter-regional Festival Competition in Malawi in 2008, Mokoomba has toured more than 30 countries performing at festivals and concerts and conducting music and dance workshops for all ages locally, regionally and internationally.
Mokoomba recorded its first album Kweseka-Drifting Ahead and the hit single Messe Messe, produced in collaboration with Dutch DJ Gregor Salto as part of the Stand Up anti-poverty campaign funded by Africa Unsigned in 2009.
In 2011 Mokoomba and Gregor Salto released an EP titled Umvundla and in 2012 Mokoomba launched its second album Rising Tide, produced by Manou Gallo, which has received rave reviews from world music specialists including UK’s prestigious Songlines Magazine, Froots Magazine, Afropop Worldwide and The Guardian which listed Rising Tide in its top five world music albums of 2012.
