Msafiri Zawose

BIO

Msafiri Zawose is a Gogo-fusion musician from Tanzania.

Gogo music derives its distinctive sound from the mixture of a variety of unique instruments and vocal harmonies indigenous to the Wagogo, an ethnic group that historically inhabited central Tanzania. Msafiri is a master of traditional Gogo instruments such as the limba (thumb piano), filimbi (flute), zeze (bowed/plucked lute), ngoma (hand drums), and marimba (xylophone).

Born into a family that honors tradition, Msafiri is the son and musical heir of Hukwe Zawose – a musical giant who was a founding member of Tanzania’s post-independence National Dance Troupe and who toured extensively as part of Peter Gabriel’s Real World roster in the 1980s and 1990s.

Hukwe left a lasting legacy, but Msafiri has stepped into the limelight with his own take on traditional Gogo music, fused with a variety of contemporary influences. Performing solo or leading a larger ensemble, Msafiri has developed a compelling live act that balances virtuosic instrumental playing with rich, evocative vocals, electronics, and songwriting that effortlessly switches from deeply moving to joyously uplifting. Msafiri has toured extensively throughout the world having performed and led educational workshops in the Unites States, Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.

Msafiri has released eight full-length albums and numerous singles, continually expanding his artistic reach. His early works include foundational releases like Vyombo (2004), Dawale Chouya (2007), Mbotela (2013), and Tanganyika (2014). His 2016 album Tija marked a bold fusion of tradition with modern sounds. Msafiri continues to tirelessly evolve his sound through a growing list of collaborative works including genre-defying projects with a wide range of international labels, producers, and artists. In 2017, Msafiri’s album Uhamiaji was released on Soundway Records, an award-winning London-based independent record label. In January 2020, Msafiri and Penya, a UK-based electronic music quartet, released Penya na Msafiri Zawose with On the Corner Records, another London-based label. Msafiri and Penya have continued to collaborate as WEMA, a supergroup including New York producer Photay. WEMA’s self-titled, debut album released in 2022. The result of a separate collaboration in 2021, Dutch producer Feiertag and Msafiri's song “Trepidation” is featured on the soundtrack of FIFA 22, a video game published by Electronic Arts, one of the world’s major video game publishers.Subsequent releases encompass Sababa and related collaborative projects with hjerlmuda, and other works through APF Studio and independent outlets. In 2025 he released the single “Pepeta”, a danceable Afro-fusion track , showcasing the pulse of Gogo rhythm in a contemporary context.

Msafiri was a co-winner of the Beyond Music Project, a by-invitation social networking platform and musical collaboration project, in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2025. Recently, Msafiri was nominated for the “Experimental Music” award at the 2021 Sondeka Awards as well as “Best Traditional Song of the Year” at the 2021 Tanzania Music Awards where he won “Best Male Traditional Musician.”

Alongside his recording and touring work, Msafiri continues to dedicate himself to preserving, teaching, and reimagining East African traditional music for contemporary and future audiences worldwide. Msafiri is an experienced educator. He has led workshops and masterclasses worldwide, sharing African musicality, rhythm, and instrument traditions with global audiences while shaping the future of traditional African music.

Msafiri’s music embodies a vibrant dialogue between ancient tradition and contemporary creativity, preserving the Gogo legacy while inviting global audiences into a musical world that is both timeless and urgently alive.