Okumana ya Makhalelo Is a production of two rhapsodies showcasing a fusion of rich traditional sounds from the Central, Northern and Southern regions of Mozambique. The production takes you on a musical journey, from Ilha de Moçambique an Island with a historical heritage where a musical Queen Zena Bacar was born and founded the Yuphuro Band which became the first band in Mozambique to record and produce a CD; to the City of Acacias, Maputo where the Internationally recognised genre Marrabenta and it’s Godfather Dilon Djindji was birthed.
Band members
Nicolau Cauaneque
Nicolau Cauaneque is the Artistic Director at Crossroads Academy in Mozambique. He is one of the most talented Piano and Saxophone players in Mozambique. He had the opportunity to play for the greatest musicians in Mozambique and international artists during concerts, local and international festivals. Nicolau has an Honors degree in Music from Universidade Eduardo Mondlane and during these studies, he has had the opportunity to participate in an Exchange program in Finland. You cannot talk about Mozambican pianists without mentioning this great instrumentalist Cauaneque
Ebenezer Pedro de Abreu Sengo
Ebenezer Pedro de Abreu Sengo teaches guitar and harmony at Music Crossroads Academy. He started growing an interest for music at a young age and in his teenage years he also developed a passion for teaching music through his local church. Ebenezer holds a degree from Campus of Performing Arts (COPA) in Johannesburg in Music Production and Sound Engineering. Through his studies he was able to compete in several competitions in South Africa, and was amongst others awarded as one of the top 24 jazz musicians in the country through Emirates Pursuit of Jazz in 2019. Upon graduation he has grown to be a multi-instrumentalist, best known as a solo guitarist, bassist, composer and producer from the country.
Hipólito Salvador Cossa
Hipólito Salvador Cossa teaches Bass Main Instrument and is Production at Music Crossroads Academy. He began to be interested in music as a child as a vocalist, years later he became a composer and music producer. Having participated in several national and international festivals, in 1998 he participated in the Music Crossroads Festival. Cossa is also a social activist for social causes and he is one of the best Mozambican references when it comes to being a bassist and one of the first famous bass players in the country.
Kalusa José Bandaleao
Kalusa José Bandaleao, is a former student of the certification program at the Music Crossroads Academy, teaches voice, choir and Ear Training. She comes from a family of artists and at the age of 9 she started her artistic career, at the age of 13 she entered the artistic world as a chorus girl for several national and international artists. She graduated from the Music Crossroads Academy Mozambique and since her formation she has had several opportunities as a teacher and Artist, 2021 she participated in the MOVE Cultural Interchange in Brazil where she founded a dance group Marrabenta.
Raimundo Xavier Licenga
Raimundo Xavier Licenga is a Mozambican composer, traditional instrumentalist and rhythm researcher for over 20 years, he works for the development of traditional rhythms, plays several traditional instruments such as Mbira, Marimba, Timbila and is also a vocalist of folk music. He also participated in several national and international festivals, one of them the Music Crossroads festival.
Xixel Langa
Xixel Langa, is one of the results of Academia Music Crossroads Mozambique, in the Professional Certification program.
XL was born into a family of Artists with the blood of musical notes, daughter of a great Musician Hortêncio Langa. She learned Olympic Gymnastics at an early age and later entered the National School of Music. Because music must be accompanied by dance steps, Xl decided to study dance with a focus on traditional dances at the age of 19, and decided to start her solo career and then went to neighbouring South Africa where she was part of several bands, one of them Manding Khan, she also participated in the CAPE TOWN INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL festival, with her band called Tucan Tucan. Xl is one of the Mozambican references when she became a fan of Artista, Using her voice to give a voice to other women and young people. Langa is an ambassador for the fight against gender-based violence, child marriage and teen drug use.
Americo Estevao Sambo
Americo Estevao Sambo – is a musician, drummer trained at Music Crossroads Mozambique, in rhythmic reading and transcription, harmony, melodic reading and transcription, auditory perception, body percussion and drums as the main instrument.
He had the opportunity to learn a lot about musical styles and drumming techniques from the great musicians called Texito Langa and Nicolau Cauaneque. He has played in several eating houses and also at private events accompanying bands or artists such as: Lala Mahigo, Zoco Dimande etc.
