Azah

AZAH, which means courage, is a word in Gha, one of the most spoken official languages in Ghana, West Africa. AZAH is also the name of a phenomenally versatile music band from Mamelodi, which is 20km East of Pretoria. AZAH was formed by a brilliant and talented composer, arranger, various hand –percussionist,and musicologist and pedagogue,Given Mphago- Jood.Azah divergent and all encompassing musical vision uses organic clinical sound but also incoporates various genre such as acid jazz,smoth soul,afro beat,indegious afrosound all in all the music of the diaspora,including pscychedia blues,folk and world music to find interdimantional expressions. Mphago gives Azah an extra dimation with His background and influence of Malombo sound of the legendary exponent DR Philip Tabane and the Kiba expressions of the bapedi people of the north.His musical impression has a definate element to it, which could be spiritualy engaging.By eding sentimental ballads,industrial and contemporary fusion sound to funk workouts,the band harmonises in the a trance like mood,multifacets of trancendal dimations in the spitiual realm that are

esoterical,simiring grooves like jazz ,fusion outfits plus all thier shows were oftern just as elaborative and dynamic as powerdriven,more than just versitility f its own sake. Azah electisism is part of a broder world music concept informd by an unti-cosmic,spirituality and uplifting positivity like which has never been.Mphago has been comissioned to composed drumming repetore for the musical KETIMA which saw Greg Maqoma winning the FNB vita Award which premiered at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London. He has also performed with the likes of Dr Malombo Tabane,Thandiswa Mazwai, and Sello Galane.
AZAH has come to represent the indigenous and Diaspora music and it’s considered African cultural emissaries at home and abroad. The band was formed in 1992 and has performed in places like Holland, Mexico, England and locally has performed in national festivals like Soweto Arts festival, South African music week,Polokwane arts festival,Grahamstown festival,Arts alive. The band is a seven piece and performs music that accommodates divergent genres and clinical improvisation. Our music is a spiritual blend of idioms and expressions of our people. AZAH has established a dedicated cult like following and fan base abroad. Although the band has changed considerably since inception, their music has reached world class and has matured over the years.

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