Njava

Probably one of the most exciting rings from Madagascar, Njava continues to be attracting international interest since their crowd-rousing collection in the WOMAD Event in 1995. Njava is mainly made up of siblings — two sisters and three brothers — from your south Madagascar’s Antemoto tribe. Njava brings today’s sensibility to the original music of the homeland. Initially a power band, Njava started concentrating on traditional music after shifting to Brussels, Belgium, in the first ’90s. Their debut recording, Vetse, premiered in 1977 and made by influential Japanese maker Makoto Kubota. The group features Monique “Monika” Rasoanirina on vocals, Gabrielle “Lala” Raharimahala on vocals and percussion, Theogene “Dozzy” Randriamanpionana on acoustic guitar, marovany, and vocals, Patrick “Pata” Randriamanjava on percussion and vocals, Maximin “Maximum” Randriamanjava on bass and vocals, and Serge “Luc” Rakotomalala on acoustic guitar, percussion, and vocals.