Cheny Wa Gune Quarteto

While firmly grounded in the musical traditions of Mozambique’s Chope region (famous for its large timbila orchestras), Cheny Wa Gune's Quarteto pushes these boundaries by interweaving the influences of jazz, funk, reggae, afrobeat, and samba.

This innovative music of Cheny Wa Gune Quarteto combines traditional instruments like the m'bira (a wooden piano with metal keys), the m'bila (plural of timbila, an xylophone like instrument made out of wooden keys, gourds and vibrating membranes) and the xitende (an instrument made with the shape of an arch, and with gourds and wires) as well as the expression of dance, poetry and song. These melodies and rhythms, with the Chopi timbila music at its foundation, has given birth to a new style of music called “Chopi Timbila Groove.” This innovative new style is helping Cheny and his quartet to emerge among as leaders in the new generation of musicians in Mozambique, reaching many generations in this young country celebrating 35 years of independence.

This emerging group’s potential has been recognized by international audiences, with performances in Argentina (Festival FIBA-2009), Reunion Island (Toucan Creole, Niut de la Liberte-2009), South Africa (Moshito Music Conference and Exhibition-2009), Brazil (Festival Nossa Lingua-Nossa Musica, Luses e Aphauses, Antidoto-Itau Cultural, FESTLIP, Encontros Culturais de Lingua Portuguesa-2010), and Denmark (WOMEX World Music Expo-2010). The Quarteto is: Cheny Wa Gune (on the m'bira, the m'bila, the xitende and lead vocal), Zito (drums and vocals), Nené (bass and vocals), and Cabocha (percussion ).