Hukwe Ubi Zawose

Hukwe Ubi Zawose (Dodoma, Tanzania, 1940) was a Tanzanian musician associated with the tradition of the Wagogo people, in the centre of the country. His work serves as an example of how traditional African music was able to reach an international audience without losing its roots.

He grew up herding cattle in the Ugogo region. It was from this environment that he developed his grounding in the Wagogo musical heritage, playing indigenous instruments such as the ilimba, a lamellophone, the zeze, a single-stringed chordophone, and the filimbi, which are flutes. His compositions, both original works and adaptations, recount historical tales and celebrate political parties. For many years he was associated with the country's national music and dance company.

He was also the founding director of the Chuo cha Sanaa (College of Arts), a school established in Bagamoyo, on the Tanzanian coast, to teach and preserve aspects of traditional expressive culture. His recordings demonstrate his mastery of diphonic singing, part of the Wagogo harmonic vocal tradition. His participation in WOMAD festivals around the world helped to spread Wagogo music and also boosted his recording career.

By the late twentieth century he was regarded as one of Tanzania's most important and influential traditional musicians.