Product Overview
Ghorwane – Majurugenta / Real World Records Audio CD 1993 / CDRW 29
UPC 077778828921
Marjurugenta is the debut album by Mozambican marrabenta band Ghorwane, recorded in August 1991 at Real World Studios but not released until September 1993 by Real World Records. The band had built up a reputation in their native country throughout the 1980s for their unique urban dance musical style and politically conscious lyrics, pulling from genres such as marrabenta and xigbu. After being denied visas to play at a European festival in 1987, it soon became possible for the band to play the world music-celebrating WOMAD festival in 1990. While on their trip to the festival, the band were approached by the WOMAD-affiliated Real World Records to record their debut album.
The album combines warm melodies, soulful horns, East African guitar work, dance rhythms (mostly in Mozambican styles), soft vocals, subdued percussion and elements of further afield genres such as soukous (especially prevalent in the rhythms and horns), reggae, jazz as well as Portuguese and Brazilian music. Jose "Zeca" Alage's breezy saxophone work is a defining feature of the music. Lyrically, the album addresses the poor state of Mozambican society and criticises how the country's citizens were dying due to lack of medicine and transport during the civil war. The album received critical acclaim, with praising aimed at the agit-prop lyrics, danceable rhythms and unique sound. Algae was murdered prior to the band's 1993 European tour in promotion of the album.
Tracklist:
| 1 | Muthimba
Written-By – Jose Alage
Written-By – Jose Alage
|
4:39 | |
| 2 | Majurugenta
Written-By – Jose Alage
Written-By – Jose Alage
|
7:42 | |
| 3 | Matarlatanta
Written-By – Roberto Chitsonzo
Written-By – Roberto Chitsonzo
|
5:38 | |
| 4 | Xai-Xai
Written-By – Jose Alage
Written-By – Jose Alage
|
4:45 | |
| 5 | Mavabwyi
Written-By – Jose Alage
Written-By – Jose Alage
|
5:37 | |
| 6 | Sathuma
Written-By – Roberto Chitsonzo
Written-By – Roberto Chitsonzo
|
4:28 | |
| 7 | Buluku
Written-By – Roberto Chitsonzo
Written-By – Roberto Chitsonzo
|
5:34 | |
| 8 | Terehumba
Written-By – Roberto Chitsonzo
Written-By – Roberto Chitsonzo
|
5:46 | |
| 9 |
Akuhanha
Written-By – Roberto Chitsonzo
Written-By – Roberto Chitsonzo
|
4:47 |
- Bass – Carlitos Mandanda
- Design, Art Direction – Sy-Jenq Cheng
- Drums – Riquito Mafambane
- Guitar [Rythm], Vocals – Roberto Chitsonzo
- Keyboards – Marciano Monjane
- Lead Guitar, Vocals – Tchika Fernando
- Liner Notes – Gerry Lyseight
- Mixed By – Richard Evans (3)
- Other [Series Identity By] – Garry Mouat
- Painting [Front & Back: From The Painting Sim Tudo, 1991 By] – Malangatana Valente Nguenha
- Percussion – Celso Paco
- Percussion, Vocals – David Macuácua
- Photography By [Front & Back] – Martinho Fernando
- Photography By [Inside] – Pete Williams (14)
- Recorded By – Chris Lawson
- Saxophone, Vocals – Zeca Alage
- Trumpet – Júlio Baza
