2023 ARTISTS ANNOUNCED
After a month-long CollaboNation call out process that saw 366 applications received from across Southern Africa, the two CollaboNation 2023 match-ups have been selected.
House On Fire is excited to announce that this year’s CollaboNation artists will be Thobile Makhoyane (Eswatini) X The Hood Brodz (Mozambique), and Mokoomba (Zimbabwe) X Morena Leraba (Lesotho).
Thobile Makhoyane fuses her haunting vocals and traditional musical instruments – like the Makhoyane and Sitololo – with western musical instruments to create a style of her own that will perfectly complement The Hood Brodz, a DJ and producer duo hailing from Bairro Trevo, a neighborhood in Maputo, Mozambique and whose passions lie with Afro Deep House and Afro-Tech.
Mokoomba are a multi-ethnic band from Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, whose sound blends genres as diverse as Sungura, Reggae, Dancehall, Urban and Afro Jazz with traditional rhythms and contemporary Zimrock, while Morena Leraba melds homegrown traditional Famo-inspired vocals with a multitude of genres ranging from Electronic Dance to Hip-Hop.
These exciting pairings reflect the project aims of House On Fire’s CollaboNation; namely to connect and unite the region through a series of unique music collaborations, supporting the weaving together of Africa’s rich and diverse musical genres and building linkages between cultural industries and networks.
CollaboNation fans will be able to follow the creative journey of the artists as they come together to record the song, with intimate in-studio snippets and short documentaries. The journey will culminate in a live performance by the artists on the internationally celebrated stages of the MTN Bushfire international festival of the arts in Eswatini, from 26-28 May 2023. Subsequently, the music videos of the collaborations will be released.
To follow these two amazing collaborative journeys with in-studio vids, artist reels, and other audio and visual releases leading up to MTN Bushfire 2023, simply follow “CollaboNation” on Facebook, Instagram, and @CollaboNation_ on Twitter or subscribe to the CollaboNation YouTube channel.
CollaboNation is funded by the Sound Connects Fund, an initiative by the Music In Africa Foundation (MIAF) and Goethe-Institut. The Sound Connects Fund is made possible with funding from the ACP-EU Culture Programme, a project implemented by the Secretariat of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States and funded by the European Union (EU). The Fund is also co-funded by Goethe-Institut and Siemens Stiftung.
CollaboNation 1
CollaboNation 2
Thobile Makhoyane X The Hood Brodz
Thobile Makhoyane (SZ) fuses her haunting vocals and traditional musical instruments like the Makhoyane and Sitololo with western musical instruments to create a style of her own: ‘DloziRock’. Her powerful, charismatic stage presence and strong lyrical content captivate as she addresses social issues with the aim to educate, empower and uplift.
The Hood Brodz (MZ) is a DJ/producer duo hailing from Maputo, Mozambique. Ayrton and younger brother Hélio have been working together since 2011, releasing many songs on international labels in South Africa, France, Dubai and Angola, and more, as well as establishing their mark on the Mozambican music landscape.
Mokoomba X Morena Leraba
Morena Leraba (LS) is a shepherd from the mountains of Lesotho who fuses his homegrown traditional Famo-inspired vocals with a multitude of genres ranging from Electronic Dance to Hip-Hop, meshing cultures and sounds from far and wide to create a truly unique sonic experience, called “Famo Electro”.
Mokoomba’s (ZW) unique sound blends genres as diverse as Sungura, Reggae, Dancehall, Urban and Afro Jazz with traditional rhythms and contemporary Zimrock. This explosively talented six-man crew has toured over 40 countries on five continents and performed at the world’s most prestigious international festivals and venues.
