MAMA MOSAMBIKI

Artist: Mama Mosambiki Newscasts may paint Mozambique as a country torn by war and famine, but travel to the Northern part of the island and you'll find a thriving cultural center of arts and music. It is here that local pop group Eyuphuro (Makua word for "whirlwind") calls home. The six member band, comprised of percussionists, guitarists and lead vocalist Zena Bakar, offer lush samba rhythms and flowing acoustic melodies, based on local traditions of Mozambique's Nampula province as well as influences from Latin America and the Middle East. Socially conscious lyrics focusing on topics like local courtship rituals and male/female societal roles are the meat of their songs, offering outsiders a glimpse of both this fascinating culture and the group's songwriting talent.