Roberto Chitsondzo

Roberto Chitsondzo is a prominent Mozambican teacher, musician, composer and performer. Born Roberto Maximiano Chitsonzo on 9 August 1961 in João Belo (current Xai -Xai), Gaza Province, in his youth he was part of bands like The Good Show and Stop e Tchaka and had the privilege to play in some nightclubs. He arrived in Maputo after passing through various provinces of Mozambique. There, in 1977 as a chorister, under the invitation of Alexandre Mazuze, he participated in various shows in large music venues. A few years later, he recorded his first compositions.

In 1980, his music was selected to open radio programs that intended to bring awareness about the population census. This allowed him to record a song at Rádio Moçambique accompanied by a band. In 1984, accompanied by Pedro Langa and his group he recorded the song 'Xizambiza'. Thanks to Pedro Langa, Chitsondzo joined the band Ghorwane. They entered the Rádio Moçambique studios to record their first songs. With Ghorwane he found musical maturity and reaches its peak with the recording of 'Majurugenta' (1993), 'Kudumba' (1997) and 'Vana Va Ndota' (2005) albums, establishing Ghorwane as one of the most loved and internationallz successful bands in Mozambique.

Later, without parting ways with Ghorwane, Chitsondzo started his solo career to experiment with other musical influences, successfuly merging religious, traditional and pop music. In 2014 Chitsondzo was preparing his first solo album, entitled 'Kwiri la mamani' (literally 'a mother’s womb').

(Photos by: David Durbach)