The Zawose Queens (Tanzania)

Durchlüften Main Act

Porträt des tansanischen Duos The Zawose Queens am Strand

On four summer weekends, DURCHLÜFTEN transforms the Humboldt Forum’s  Schlüterhof  into a free open-air meeting place where musical traditions from across the globe unfold as living cultural archives.  

The festival will be opened on July 9, 2026 at 19:00 by Hartmut Dorgerloh, General Director of the Humboldt Forum and Melissa Perales, curator of the festival, followed by the music acts Canto Diáspora and Jatun Mama.

The Zawose Queens carry the spirit and fire of Tanzania’s Gogo (Wagogo) tradition into the present day. Soaring chizeze fiddle, buzzing illimba thumb piano, ngoma drums, and ecstatic polyphonic vocals weave together in music rooted in ceremony, nature, and East African pride. Singing in Kigogo, Pendo and Leah Zawose, they channel ancestral vibrations while embracing a fresh, dance-inspired energy.

With their debut album Maisha, the women of the legendary Zawose family step forward as lead artists for the first time. Blending tradition with subtle electronic textures, the record moves from stripped-back ritual sounds to modern beats — honoring their heritage while opening a bold new chapter.

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Bandcamp

- Price: free admission

- Duration: 90 Min

- Location: Ground Floor, Schlüter Courtyard

- Belongs to: Durchlüften 2026

Next date:

• Date Friday, 31/July/2026 20:30
• Venue Humboldt Forum: Schlüterhof (Berliner Schloss)
• Address Schloßplatz 5, 10178 Berlin-Mitte