The Zawose family, or clan, is the collective progeny and relations of the internationally renowned Wagogo musician, Hukwe Zawose. Recognized for his talent by Tanzania’s first president, Julius Nyerere, while on a trip around his newly independent nation, Zawose was brought from Dodoma to Dar es Salaam to play his traditional music. After several albums and many years later, Zawose caught the eye of Peter Gabriel, who produced his final three albums on the Real World record label. It’s fair to say that Hukwe Zawose introduced Wagogo music, certainly the most unique music in Tanzania, to the world.
When Hukwe passed away in 2003 he left not only an impressive body of work and an important musical legacy, but a family of around twenty children who carry on his work. He taught his children everything about their traditional music; how to sing in perfect harmony, play their songs, and also make all of the instruments that comprise the Wagogo musical repertoire...Lucas Ubi Zawose is Master Musician of Gogo traditional music from Wagogo tribe in Dodoma. He's the singer, performer and instrument builder. He plays most of Gogo traditional instruments like zeze, marimba, ilimba, filimbi, kayamba, chizeze and ndono. Lucas Zawose learned music from his brother Doctor Hukwe Ubi Zawose. Together they were touring around the world, sharing the Gogo tribe values in Japan, Germany, United Kingdom, many African countries and more. Lucas Ubi Zawose is playing music since 40 years now but after his brothers Hukwe Zawose died in 2003 and Charles Zawose passing away in 2004, Lucas decided to retire. Therefore joining recent shows wit Sinaubi Zawose & Pamoja Zanzibar was a very special moment for everyone, all musicians on stage and their audience.
Tanzania is the biggest country of the East African Community, with more than 120 tribes. The country actively supports preservation of the culture of each of the tribes.
The Wagogo are a Bantu ethnic and linguistic group based in the Dodoma region of central Tanzania. They have been predominantly pastoralist, but many contemporary Gogo now practises sedentary agriculture, and have migrated to urban areas, or work on plantations across Tanzania.