Miguel Xabindza

BIO

Miguel Xabindza is a composer, performer and instrumentalist, born in Maputo, capital of Mozambique. With over 18 years of career, his voice is nationally known and has been heard in other parts of the world. His songs come mainly from the Afrosoul genre, a mix of soul music with African songs - especially Mozambican -, being sung in Portuguese and XiChangana, traditional from the southern region of the country.

Around the age of 20, one of Miguel's cousins (Zunjane Wale), who was choirmaster at the Anglican Church of Maputo, took him to see the work he was doing, as he used to hear Miguel singing at home, where they lived together. At that time, Miguel already had previous experience, of around 8 years, with the Gungu Theater Company, in Maputo. That was how, on his first visit to the Khensani Ohssi Choir, he connected with the Afro and modern gospel they were doing, where he stayed for four years. The semi-acoustic guitar became part of Miguel's life, as he borrowed it from his cousin Zunjane, when he took it to choir rehearsals weekly. Miguel is, therefore, self-taught, but highlights the importance of the teachings on vocal technique that he obtained during the period in which he attended church.

Miguel's first band was formed with three other members of the choral group, Adérito Conjo, Mércio Langa and Michael Gerson, as well as other professionals (a total of nine musicians). It was called "Ndyangu" (which means "Family") and remained together for around five years, with individual performances and in partnership with big names in Maputo music, mainly hip-hop, an avant-garde in carrying out of hip-hop concerts with live band.

After this experience, Miguel started his solo project, with backing vocals Nelma Mpfumo and Cídia Isabel. The initial formation lasted around three years and, after this period, Miguel invited bassist Amone Jovo and percussionist Samito Tembe to join the band, who remained in the formation for around two years. Later, bassist Nené Cossa, drummer Zito Nhacocome and backing vocalist Kátia Jéssica joined the group. Unfortunately, Kátia passed away in 2014, when Miguel stopped having backing vocals in his concerts.

Two years later, the band was made up of bassist Eduardo Massango, who continues to be part of the trio, along with Zito and Miguel. This formation is nationally known in Mozambique, as there are already over 1,500 presentations held in different parts of the country, with emphasis on shows at Teatro Avenida, at the Centro Cultural Franco-Moçambicano, at Galeria do Porto, at Centro Cultural Universitário da Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, in other spaces. Internationally, Miguel has performed in Brazil, Macau, Namibia and South Africa.

Miguel Xabindza's concerts are versatile and appreciated by different audiences. In his career, special appearances stand out in concerts by the British Billy Ocean and the Cape Verdean Tito Paris, in 2017, as well as by the Ivorian Monique Seka, in 2023. Miguel has also sung with the Brazilian Djavan, in an event private, in Maputo. Miguel performed in Brazil, in February 2024. This was his first time in Latin America. He had a concert at Al Janiah, in São Paulo's downtown, and at SESC Guarulhos, in the metropolitan region of São Paulo city. 

Currently, Miguel continues to perform together with his band, in the most varied provinces of Mozambique, and is preparing to record his first album. To this end, he has more than ten tracks composed, out of a total of dozens already written, for which he will still seek new opportunities to publicize.