The Zawose Queens embody the new generation of Tanzania’s most iconic musical family. Descended from the Gogo people of Dodoma’s arid hills, Pendo and Leah Zawose carry forward the legacy of their father and grandfather, the late Dr Hukwe Zawose, while taking bold steps as the first women in the family to lead as singers and performers.

Their music is a celebration of life — a dialogue between past and present. The soaring chizeze violin, the buzzing illimba thumb piano, and the resonant ngoma drums intertwine with contemporary arrangements and delicate electronic layers, creating a soundscape where tradition meets innovation. Sung in Kigogo, their songs speak of passion, nature’s wonders, pride, and deep East African roots.

With Maisha, their debut album, The Zawose Queens present a powerful statement: a reimagining of heritage through a female perspective. Supported by British producers Oli Barton-Wood (Jordan Rakei, Obongjayar, Nilufer Yanya) and Tom Excell (Nubiyan Twist, Onipa), they have crafted a sound that is raw yet refined, grounded yet futuristic.

On stage, The Zawose Queens radiate an extraordinary energy. Through ritual-inspired dance, commanding vocals, and vibrant percussion, they transport audiences into the heart of Gogo traditions — a collective, luminous trance where ancestral rhythm and modern spirit pulse as one.