Who Are We?

 

Bongo Love (from Zimbabwe), has been playing together since 2001. "Afrocoustics", as they call their genre, is a fusion of western (guitar) and traditional African acoustic instruments, the mbira (thumb piano from Zimbabwe), the marimba (Mozambique), the djembe/bongo (West Africa) and the congas.

 

Ushering a unique blend of Afro-beat and traditional Zimbabwean music; their songs and vibrant dances have captured audiences for nearly a decade making them one of Southern Africa's most diverse bands.

 

In March 2006 they won the national prize of the Music Crossroads Festival in Zimbabwe and were selected to participate in the Interregional Festival of Music Crossroads that took place in Maputo, Mozambique where they went on to win the Ethno Music Prize. As a result, they were invited to perform in Sweden and the Dominican Republic, leading to their first major tour of the United States in 2007.

 

Since then, they have travelled extensively in the United States as well as several African countries playing on a variety of stages including festivals, camps, clubs, and private social functions.

 

As an emerging musical force, this dynamic group has fused styles from all over the world with the sounds of their native Zimbabwe to create a unique and utterly infections music. As they combine theatrics, dance and impromptu call-and-response vocal styles - listeners are drawn right in, creating a wonderful collaboration of performers and the audience. This youthful, beautifully connected group of musicians caters to people with an interest in traditional music, jazz, reggae, pop or just a night of great dancing.

 

Highlights since 2006:

1.  Guest band for Dispatch's three nights sold out show at Madison Square Garden, New York 

2.  Performed in Chicago House of Blues 2008

3.  Performed in Dominican Republic at the African Caribbean Music Festival (ACP) 2006.

3.  Toured the East Coast as the opening act for State Radio

4.  Various tour circuits in Clubs and Festivals in United States of America, Canada, Sweden,                                Dominican Republic and some African countries such as Tanzania and Mozambique.

5.  Workshops: During their most recent tours in North America, Bongo Love taught workshops to                people wish to learn Marimba, Mbira, Drumming and singing