Mozambican singer-songwriter Nilsa Mosele has released “Sofala,” a song that looks back to her childhood in rural Mozambique and the musical traditions that shaped her.
The track draws from memories of growing up with her grandmother, in a setting without television or telephones where community, music and dance were central to everyday life. At the heart of “Sofala” is Utsi, a traditional Mozambican dance accompanied by drummers.
For Mosele, the song is an exploration of where her musical identity began. “In Sofala, I search for my musical roots,” she explains, describing the track as a reflection of her childhood and the cultural environment surrounding it.
Mosele’s connection to music began early. Born and raised in Beira as one of eight children, she made homemade instruments and performed with her siblings before winning her first music competition at 14. At 16, she joined Djovana, a collective that became part of Mozambique’s hip-hop scene in the late 1990s and later toured internationally across Switzerland, Germany and South Africa.
Now based in Switzerland for more than two decades, Mosele has developed a career spanning jazz, songwriting and Mozambican musical traditions. She studied jazz in Bern and has released four albums: Mamã (2005), Aphale (2010), Eu Sou de Cor (2012) and Salada Moçambicana (2018).
“Sofala” is accompanied by another recent single, “Emilia,” which takes a different approach to personal storytelling. Inspired by a conversation with her niece, the song reflects on beauty, self-confidence, education and independence.
Across both releases, Mosele draws from personal experiences while remaining connected to the cultural traditions that have informed her work. With “Sofala,” that connection leads back to rural Mozambique, childhood memories and the music and dance she encountered growing up.
The new single is out now.
