Likumbi - Rite of initiation of the Makonde tribe of Cabo Delgado province on the Mueda plateau in Mozambique. Likumbi is a ritual aimed at adolescent males. This traditional activity is intended to teach young people the modus vivendi of the Makonde people, more properly the true meaning of being makonde. The ritual aims to give the adolescent a deep understanding of what it is to be a man and his duties in the tribal point of view.

My Experience - I remember when I had the conversation with my father, and he told me that I was going to do the initiation rites, Likumbi. It was a surprise because I did not realize what that meant to me, of course the fear was the "frequency" that prevailed during our conversation. For a Makonde boy who grew up in several places, from Zimbabwe to the province of Manica and from adolescence to the present day in the city of Maputo, the initiation ritual was a mystery, or rather a new stage in my life.
A few months passed and in December I went to Mueda district, in the village of my mother Muatide, in the province of Cabo Delgado, to begin this great journey that profoundly marked my life.
On waking the first morning to the sound of the rooster, my uncle and godfather took me by the hand to a hut. There I was covered with clay, a symbolism linked to Makonde culture: I come from this land, man is made of earth. Meanwhile, the older ones sang to the sound of bottles and percussions, in the cadence of Mapiko. My heart throbbed with the drumbeat, pounding the makonde rhythm. The fear dominated ... Soon after my godfather takes me in his hands and runs with me towards the bush ... and there I entered that mystery ... I learned ... and from there I left a Man.


This album is dedicated to my son Rafa, I love you with all my heart.

Thank You
Mother, Father, Sisters, Uncles and Aunts, Cousins, without you this project wouldn’t be possible, thanks for your support, love and understanding. Love you from the bottom of my heart! Slambassi Shetu!

My nephews: Zuwa, Tonganni, Lyanni, Akyla and Yambuco, Kayisa, Mwedi, and Nubia, I love you too much. Love your shenanigans, they inspire me too much…

To my tribe Makonde, you are the reason for the title of this album. I dedicate this record to all the tribes from Rovuma to Maputo, from the Indian Ocean to the Zumbo! Assante (Khanimambo).

Special Thanks:
Milton Gulli, Mickey Fonseca, Pipas Forjaz, Nilza Forjaz, Rogério, Maura 14 and my Kongoloti Family, my manager Jess White (Akum Agency), Hamilton Chambela, Ricardo Pinto Jorge, Pedro Amaral, Fu da Siderurgia, Helton, Dado, Rage, Rita Lopes da Silva, Nilzo Jack Vilanculos, Aílton Matavela aka TRKZ, Mak da P, Jorge Olympio e Sara Ferreira, Bossana, Mauro & Dub Africa, Rimas e Batidas, Texito Langa, China, Ndema, Ngueto, Pierre Esparsa, Simba Sitoe, Amanda Bay, Claire, Jorge Mondlane, Eduardo Timóteo Mondlane, Rui Mascarenhas, António Macheve Jr, Kay Arthur Brito (you are a great source of inspiration), Bruno Huca, Gabi, Moeketse, Desire, Edna Jaime, Horácio Macuacua, Idio Chichava, Marc Brébant, Ana Lúcia e Butcheka, French Cultural Center in Maputo, Dion Monti, Gonçalo Mabunda, Rui Miguel Abreu, Ivan Mazuze, Nuno Albuquerque aka Petizem, Carlos Gove, Roberto Chitsondzo, Adiodato Gomes, Danilo de Sousa Nhantumbo, Frederico Pereira Silva, Rui Trindade, Fresh Nunas, Akil Varinda, Tuche, May Mbira, Orquestra Electrónica, Claudio Lobo, Edson da Luz, Tavares Cebola, Pedro da Silva Pinto, A Million Things, Rui Soeiro, Filipe Soeiro, Kafri, Celo Jazz, Jojo, Paulo Borges, Ruth Borges, Xavier, Zé and all the crew from Gil Vicente, Télo, Dulce Tzopolic, Sara Daúde Fakir, Muzila, Ras Skunk & Jazz P, Ralph Smit, Thobile, Cherba.

If i forgot someone, you can write here…………………………………………………………

See you next time …



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