About

We are delighted to have the legendary Saidi Kanda back in the house. His electric sold out performances have graced our stage many times and his New Years Eve show a couple of years back was pure fire and high frequency vibes! He is a true artist, musician, fashion designer, instrument maker and story teller. A recent and exciting accalade we just had to share is playing drums for Grace Jone's most recent album!!! (swoooon)
We are honoured to host his debut album launch here with his full band Mvula Mandondo. ‘Ambush’ is the first LP release featuring entirely his own compositions and we cannot wait to hear it live!!!
Saidi comes from a Tanzanian family with a traditional musical heritage. While growing up in Tanzania, Saidi learnt to play many traditional instruments of the Ndengeleko and Manyema people. He learnt these from his grandmother who played the mbira, his mother who was a singer, and traditional drummer. From the family Mwavita. At school he led the drumming group during celebrations and also learnt more at a Catholic mission from a Cuban conguero and there Saidi began to become well-known for his skills.
He has played with many different bands including Orchestra Kizibo ,Biashara Jazz Band, Mose Fan Fan’s Somo Somo, Santana Mongoley’s Viva Congolia and one of Tanzania’s most famous bands, Remmy Ongala’s Super Matimila.
He has toured internationally in Europe USA and beyond and won 'Percussionist Of The Year' at Womad Festival one of the years he played there!
He is a founder member of Orchestra Baboma and has been closely involved with Dade Krama’s West African Folklore Project. In addition, Saidi leads percussion and traditional music workshops and performs solo appearing on Children’s ITV and Sky TV, demonstrating the traditional music of Tanzania.
As a recording artist he has played drums on Dade Krama’s inspiring Ancestral Dance and Alan Skidmore’s Ubizo, Koffi Olomide and Papa Wemba to name a few. More recently playing for Grace Jones’s most recent album.