CollaboNation 2023 artists announced
MBABANE - After a monthlong call out process, that saw 366 applications received from across Southern Africa, the two CollaboNation 2023 match-ups have been selected.
The +ouse 2n )ire has announced that this year’s CollaboNation artists are Thobile MaNhoyane ((swatini), ; The +ood Brod] (Mo]ambiTue), and MoNoomba (=imbabwe) ; Morena /eraba (/esotho).
Thobile MaNhoyane fuses her haunt ing vocals and traditional musical instruments liNe the MaNhoyane and Sitololo with western musical instru ments to create a style of her own that will perfectly complement The +ood Brod], a '- and producer duo hailing from Bairro Trevo, a neighbourhood in Maputo, Mo ]ambiTue and whose pas sions lie with Afro 'eep +ouse and Afro Tech.
MaNoomba is a multi ethnic band from 9ictoria )alls, =imbabwe, whose sound blends genres as diverse as Sungura, 5eggae, 'ancehall, 8rban and Afro -a]] with traditional rhythms and contemporary =imrocN, while Morena /eraba melds home grown traditional )amo inspired vocals with a multitude of genres ranging from (lectronic 'ance to +ip +op. These e[citing pairings reflect the proMect aims of +ouse 2n )ire’s Col laboNation namely to connect and unite the region through a series of uniTue music collaborations, sup porting the weaving together of Africa’s rich and diverse musical genres and build ing linN ages between cultural industries and networNs. :hen reached for comment, -iggs Thorne, the Creative 'irector of +ouse 2n )ire and MTN Bushfire said: ³CollaboNation was born out of the C29I' pandemic as an answer to the Tuestion which was, in this time of re strictions on travel and physical in teractions. +ow can we support artist brands and arts mobility while actively stimulating dynamic new worN"” +e went on to add that +ouse 2n )ire decided to support collaborations be cause they had proven to drive success for African artists by cross pollinating fan bases from different countries and genres, attracting media attention and thereby e[posing not only the immedi ate artists, but their national contempo raries to new marNets and sub marNets in the region, and potentially the world.
It is worth mentioning that collabora tions can breaN down cultural barriers, provide regional economic opportu nities, and help to drive sustainable careers and creative businesses.
Project
CollaboNation is funded by the Sound Connects )und, an initiative by the Mu sic In Africa )oundation (MIA)) and Goethe Institut. The Sound Connects )und is made possible with funding from the ACP (8 Culture Programme, a proMect implemented by the Sec retariat of the African, Caribbe an and Pacific (ACP) Group of States and funded by the (u ropean 8nion ((8). The fund is also co funded by Goethe Institut and Siemens Stiftung. This first edition of the CollaboNa tion proMect invited artists from (swatini, Botswana, /esotho, Mo ]ambiTue and =imbabwe, giving them the opportunity to collaborate with each other by recording original and inspiration al songs. )uture Col laboNation editions will be e[panded to in clude more countries in Africa and beyond, with the eventual aim of arranging col laborations between African artists and those from other continents, creating a truly global interchange of cultures and musical styles. According to Thorne, CollaboNation fans will be able to fol low the creative Mourney of the artists as they come together to record the song, with intimate in studio snippets and short documentaries.
³The Mourney will culminate in a live performance by the artists on the internationally celebrated stages of the MTN Bushfire international festival of the arts in (swatini, from May ,
. SubseTuently, the music videos of the collaborations will be released.” To follow these two collaborative Mour neys with in studio vids, artist reels, and other audio and visual releases leading up to MTN Bushfire , simply follow µCollaboNation’ on )acebooN, Instagram, and #CollaboNationB on Twitter or subscribe to the CollaboNa tion