Mpundzu has been in existence as a company only fairly recently, but has existed informally since November 1997 with the production of Chico António's Mpundzu concert at the Franco-Moçambicano, involving 12 musicians (including Celso Paco and Rufus Maculuve, featured in Mpundzu recording projects), 6 dancers and a choreographer (Atanásio Nhusse) with the Companhia Nacional de Canto e Dança, sets painted under the direction of the late Mozambican artist Bento Mukeswane, costumes designed by Zacarias Chemane, and computer image projection. Prior to that we had participated as individuals and with others like Tchika and the group Ghorwane in many other concert productions, including weekly sessions at the Costa do Sol restaurant, Pensão Martins and Noel Langa's atélier 'Arco Iris'.
Since 1997 Mpundzu has put on regular shows at the Brazilian Studies Centre (CEB) and the Modaskavalu Bar (Teatro Avenida), as well as producing larger shows involving Chris Berry, Tsepho Tshola & Our Story, Crucis, Kwezi, Dynamic Youth Choir and others.
We have also collaborated in shows like the hommage to Bento Mukeswane in 1999 at Teatro Avenida, and a multi-media show by Jørgen Rasmussen this year at CEB on the theme of Lixo é Vida/Vida é Lixo, where we provided surround-sound triggered sound samples and performance.
Services
We can put this experience at the service of institutions interested in presenting music shows in Maputo or elsewhere in the country. These services can include working with the musicians, providing sound reinforcement, publicity (posters, spots, etc.), media relations, live recording, and contracting of additional musicians where needed.