Tonga Music a pleasant surprise at HIFA

May 5, 2009 by Tindo ·
Filed under: Entertainment, Arts & Culture, Events, Music & Dance

This year HIFA reminded me never to judge a book by its cover. I went into the African Banking Corporation Global Stage doubting whether it was worth going there. For a moment my conscience proved to be right, little did I know that I was totaly wrong. Who knew that Tonga music can be well modified to compete with big names like Awilo, Koffi Olomide and Alan Kounku?

Mokoomba, a 6 member group (all males) was brought to HIFA 2009 by the Austrian Emabassy and were the winners of the Music Cross Roads Inter-Regional Festival in August 2008. These guys have managed to combine sounds from Wester Contemporary instruments and the Traditional Tonga Jembe and the outcome is amaizing.

All the 6 guys are great dancers too. Much to the surprise of the crowd, Mokoomba took turns to thrill the crowd with their eye catching moves on the dance floor. They can shake their waste like you can never imagine. The crowd could not help but join in the popular rhumba dance (or is it rhumba?)

Among the best songs (all their songs I will vote them my best), it was Misodzi that got everyone on to the dance floor . I do not understand Tonga but I could gather that it was a love song. The lead vocalist has a sharp voice which he can comfortably change from alto to turner every now and again. It would have been lovely to sing along but that was a blessing in disguise because we had more time to concentrate on the dance floor.