Migration Matters Festival CLOSING Party
Featuring: MoYah and The Zawose Queens
28 June | Time: 19:00 | Venue: SADACCA G-Mill
ABOUT THE SHOW
We wish the festival could go on forever. We know you do too so make sure you’re with us so we can celebrate and cap off an incredible week in style! With some fine SADACCA catering, some of the city’s best DJs and of course amazing bands!
MoYah
Award-winning Afro-fusion Mozambican refugee artist MoYah and Angolan star Don Jaga bring a high energy Afro-fusion, Hip-Hop, and soul to the stage.
A 2025 IMIX Refugee Ambassador, MoYah fuses rhythm with resistance in an unforgettable performance.
The Zawose Queens
There is spirit and fire in the music of The Zawose Queens. There's the vibrations of the ancestors, coming through on traditional instruments — soaring chizeze fiddle, buzzing illimba thumb piano, ngoma drums that chatter and thunder — and voices that go deep, high and out there. There's the connection to nature, to ceremony and ritual, in their dance-inspired fusion, their blend of the organic, harmonic and modern-day electronic. There are lyrics that tell, in their native kigogo, of the passion for music, the wonders of life. Of pride in environment, in tradition. In their East African roots.
Pendo and Leah Zawose showcase the fluid polyrhythms and rapturous polyphonic singing of the Gogo (aka Wagogo) people of the arid, hilly Dodoma region of central Tanzania.
The most famous exponent of this musical tradition is the late, great Dr Hukwe Zawose (Pendo’s father and Leah’s grandfather).
LISTEN TO THE MUSIC
WATCH THE VIDEO
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There is spirit and fire in the music of The Zawose Queens. There’s the vibrations of the ancestors, coming through on traditional instruments — soaring chizeze fiddle, buzzing illimba thumb piano, ngoma drums that chatter and thunder — and voices that go deep, high and out there. There’s the connection to nature, to ceremony and ritual, in their dance-inspired fusion, their blend of the organic, harmonic and modern-day electronic. There are lyrics that tell, in their native kigogo, of the passion for music, the wonders of life. Of pride in environment, in tradition. In their East African roots.
Pendo and Leah Zawose showcase the fluid polyrhythms and rapturous polyphonic singing of the Gogo (aka Wagogo) people of the arid, hilly Dodoma region of central Tanzania. The most famous exponent of this musical tradition is the late, great Dr Hukwe Zawose (Pendo’s father and Leah’s grandfather).
Maisha, the debut album by The Zawose Queens, marks the first time that women from this famous musical family take their place as lead vocalists and performers. Emboldened by workshops in songwriting and music production with visiting UK-based producers Oli Barton-Wood (Jordan Rakei, Obongjayar, Nilufer Yanya) and Tom Excell (Nubiyan Twist, Onipa), The Zawose Queens began writing their first ever songs. The resulting collection of songs range from the stripped back and traditional-sounding to those treated with subtle electronic elements, with beats and drops and found sounds and switch-ups.
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MoYah is an Afro-fusion rapper, artistic activist, educator, award-winning interfaith creative producer, and public speaker whose passion is empowering underrepresented communities at the intersection of music, education, and environmentalism. Born amidst the turmoil of a 15-year war in Mozambique, MoYah fled his homeland as a political refugee, eventually finding solace in the diverse musical influences of his parents and the impactful world of Hip Hop while living in Lisbon.
Renowned for electrifying performances across nearly 20 countries, MoYah has shared stages with legends such as Nas, Talib Kweli, K’naan, and other internationally respected artists. His music seamlessly blends hard-hitting lyrics with high-energy Afro-Fusion, Rap, and alternative up-tempo sounds.
MoYah’s work, featured on BBC One and international channels in Portugal, Senegal, and Mozambique, speaks not only to his personal journey but also addresses a wide range of social justice issues. His music fosters community cohesion, empathy, and celebrates perseverance within marginalised and underrepresented communities.
In 2023, MoYah was shortlisted by Portugal’s national television channel RTP as a contestant for Festival da Canção, the event that selects the Portuguese entry for the Eurovision Song Contest.
Beyond music, MoYah is a dedicated educator, delivering workshops and educational programs across the UK, Sudan, U.S., and Morocco. His efforts earned him the prestigious “21 for 21” award, recognising him as a faith-based leader breaking barriers and fostering dialogue in the 21st century.
As the official Hip-Hop Garden Manager & Ambassador of May Project Gardens, a U.K.-based organisation that reconnects people with nature for personal, social, and economic transformation, MoYah actively empowers underrepresented communities to tackle poverty, disempowerment, and access to resources through the multiple award-winning "Hip-Hop Garden" program.
MoYah is also the president of CUFA Bristol (Central Única das Favelas), leading initiatives that support cultural, social, and economic inclusion for marginalised communities. CUFA is a global movement operating in 65 countries, empowering favela residents through education, sports, arts, and entrepreneurship to create opportunities for economic and social development.
In June 2025, alongside his colleague Carlota Matos, he will be launching Refugee Week Portugal, a new arts and culture festival celebrating the contributions of refugee and migrant communities in Portugal.
Additionally, he has been nominated by IMIX as a Refugee Ambassador for 2025, recognising his advocacy and influence in the refugee and migrant rights space.
MoYah’s journey transcends music, embodying a powerful fusion of resilience, artistry, and social impact.
EVENT INFO
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£15 | £11 | £4
For more information about our ticketing approach, please visit: https://www.migrationmattersfestival.co.uk/festivalpasses
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Doors Open: 19:00
Running Time: 19:00 - 01:30 -
SADACCA G-Mill is wheelchair accessible.
From 11pm, the party will move to the first floor venue space due to noise curfews.
SADACCA’s first floor venue space is not wheelchair accessible. -
14+
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Migration Matters Festival
Photography Credit: Michael Mbwambo (The Zawose Queens)Video Credit: