BY SIPHOSETHU MABUZA
MANZINI– If you like your hip-hop with a little more bounce, Mozambique’s Bander might be one name to keep an ear out for. The rapper, whose music moves through trap, hip-hop, pandza, kizomba and amapiano, is bringing his sound across the border as he joins the line-up for Simunye Fest in Eswatini.
Born Juma Abubacar Caitano Muirec and popularly known as the “Rapper do Povo”, Bander has carved out a place in Mozambique’s urban music scene, with his early breakthrough closely linked to “Bander É Artista”, a track that helped introduce him to a wider audience.
Rather than sticking to one sound, the Maputo-based artist has continued to experiment with different African urban styles, a quality that has helped shape his identity as a performer. But Bander’s sound has not stayed within one lane. His music has moved between trap and hip-hop while also exploring kizomba, pandza and amapiano, giving him room to reach audiences beyond the traditional rap scene.
His recent releases include “Tá Fingir”, “Obrigado Por Tudo Deus” and “Phalafeni”, released in August in collaboration with Mixa Mills. Bander’s growing regional profile has also seen him look beyond Mozambique. In June, Mozambican publication Xigubo reported that the rapper was preparing for a possible European tour, although dates had not been confirmed at the time.
His appearance at Simunye Fest adds another Mozambican voice to an event bringing together artists from across the region. For Eswatini audiences, the performance will also be a chance to hear how Bander’s trap-driven sound translates to a live stage where the “Rapper do Povo” has built much of his reputation around energy and audience interaction.
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(Courtesy Pic)
