Moss Arts Center presents Jagwa Music

There’s no better way to experience Jagwa Music’s high-energy street vibe than with a dance party! Part of Virginia Tech’s Family Weekend, this free outdoor concert will have the community moving to fresh, new sounds. Described by critics as “hand-made techno” or “African nu-rave,” Jagwa Music embraces the Mchiriku style, which originated 20 years ago in the poor suburbs of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The sound reflects a time when cheap Casio keyboards became available and drew the attention of bands that were playing Chakacha dance music. The group loved the Casio's lo-fi sound, hooking the instrument to vintage amps and megaphones to create a gritty, edgy, distortion-laden sound that was rechristened Mchiriku. Jagwa Music has a large following in Dar es Salaam, where their songs reflect everyday urban life. The presentation of Jagwa Music is part of Center StageSM, a public diplomacy initiative of the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, administered by the New England Foundation for the Arts in cooperation with the U.S. Regional Arts Organizations, with support from the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art. Center Stage Pakistan is made possible by the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan. General management is provided by Lisa Booth Management, Inc.