“Sounds of Peace”, the eagerly awaited eighth album by jazz man Moreira Chonguiça, comes to us five years after the acclaimed “M&M”, with the Lion of Africa, Manu Dibango. It is a thought-provoking, reflective and introspective album that explores influences from Mozambican heritage and personal experiences of recent years.
Inspired by the rich diversity and multiplicity of languages and tribes that characterise Mozambique's cultural landscape, Moreira Chonguiça has used vocal melodies, rhythms and various instruments in songs sung in several languages. For example, “Orera Khurera” is from Nampula province, sung in the Makhuwa language, which is also found in the provinces of Cabo Delgado, Niassa and Zambézia and is spoken by around 6 million Mozambicans; “Myadi vya Imumu” and “Kwetu kwa Sidudu” are in Makonde, from Cabo Delgado province; while “Ndzakurhandza”, “Mamana wanga”, “Hosi” and “Nghwazi” bring with them languages of the Tsonga group (the Changana language) and the Nguni group (a group of languages spoken by the Swazi, Zulu and Xhosa peoples).
“Sounds of Peace” is, then, a celebration of life, of diversity, of the differences and similarities between African peoples, who have a multiplicity of influences, from Arabs, Asians, Portuguese and other Europeans. It is about peace, collaboration and mental health, important aspects of this challenging time we live in.
“Sounds of Peace” is a celebration of life, of diversity, of the differences and similarities between African peoples.
“I want to share with young people, who make up a significant part of the world's population, that there are no borders in culture. It does not matter what race or country of origin you are; what matters is that we need to share, we need to create space and silence to achieve things over which we have no control,” said Chonguiça.
Moreira Chonguiça recorded this album entirely in Mozambique, working with young musicians, some of whom came from his own project, the MoreJazz Big Band, launched eight years ago. It was a moment shared by all, in which each of the young musicians dug deep within themselves for the purest feeling and expressed it musically. “This was an emotional and extraordinary recording for me, since some of the musicians had never before been involved in a recording of this nature,” said Chonguiça.
The recording was made at Friends Studios Productions Mozambique, with assistance from the SAMRO Music Creation Support Fund and Água Vengo. Mixing and mastering were handled by Murray Anderson at Milestone Studios in Cape Town, South Africa.
The album has been available digitally since 4 November on all major streaming platforms and Bandcamp. It is also being officially launched this month, both in Mozambique and at South Africa's biggest jazz festival, “Joy of Jazz”, at the Sandton Convention Centre.
About Moreira Chonguiça
A Mozambican jazz saxophonist, composer and producer, Moreira Chonguiça is known as one of the leading exponents of Africa's innovative and original jazz.
As an independent artist with seven award-winning and widely acclaimed albums, Moreira Chonguiça asserts himself from his African roots. His energetic contemporary rhythmic compositions, inspired by Miles Davis, Fela Kuti, Percy Sledge and Manu Dibango, have won applause on all six continents, marked by a unique sound, technical agility and ingenuity on alto and soprano saxophone, combined with a passionate stage performance.
Moreira's passion and drive to promote Mozambican culture and lifestyle through jazz have made his Morejazz Series festival, whose first edition took place in 2011, and the Morejazz Big Band, created in 2014, permanent fixtures on Mozambique's jazz scene.
