Mozambique turns 39 today! Last year we celebrated with a special Mozambican playlist. Today we present the second installment of Okayafrica's Mozambique Independence Day Playlist featuring some our favorite tracks and videos to come out of Mozambique this past year.
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Dama Do Bling "Me Luv It"
Mozambique's reigning "Queen of Hip-Hop" returned in September with the dancehall-infused Lusophone flow "Me Luv It." The video features "Lady Bling" bringing her extravagant style to a junkyard dance session.
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Gato Preto "Pirão"
Gato Preto is the project of rapper Gata Misteriosa (Mozambique/Portugal) and DJ/producer Lee Bass (Ghana/Germany). Just over a year ago the pair released the psychotic visuals to their warped kuduro bass banger "Pirão."
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Ziqo "Filho do Pobre" + "ISIMO" Ft. Chery Lane
Generation Bass via Mad Decent tipped us off to a new genre popping up Maputo streets, Hip-Hop/Marrabenta/Dancehall/Kizomba/Kwaito hybrid "pandza." Ziqo is a pandza apostle who came through with two top notch videos in the past year.
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Lizha James "Quem Ti Mandou" Ft. Uhuru
In late 2013 Maputo-born singer Lizha James linked up with South African kwaito-house crew Uhuru for her own sultry "Khona" anthem.
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Simba & Milton Gulli The Heroes: A Tribute To A Tribe Called Quest
Back in September the travels of A Tribe Called Quest-inspired projects made their way to Mozambique, where Maputo music forces Simba and Milton Gulli linked up to add their multi-lingual tongue to the Tribe's historic repertoire. The collaborators opt not for covers in the strict sense, but the classics reimagined with live instrumental help from musician friends based around Maputo.