Mozambican saxophonist Moreira Chonguiça revisits one of his country’s most beloved voices with “Na Ku Randza”. The track, originally written and sung by Gito Baloi, carries new life as Chonguiça and rising vocalist Pauleta Muholove bring a contemporary interpretation to a song long treasured across southern Africa.

Chonguiça, born in Mozambique and long recognised as a leading jazz composer and producer, has built a career that spans eight albums and projects with artists from across the globe. His sound is grounded in the traditions of Mozambique but expands into dialogues with African and international jazz currents. In “Na Ku Randza”, he turns towards Baloi, the Mozambican singer and bassist who became a household name in South Africa through his work with Tananas before his death in 2004.

Baloi’s song, whose title translates as “I Love You” in Changana, retains its tender spirit here while gaining the burnished tones of Chonguiça’s alto saxophone and Muholove’s voice. The arrangement positions Baloi’s composition within a dialogue between established Mozambican jazz practice and the voice of a younger generation.

The accompanying video was filmed at Maputo’s Central Railway Station, a site indelibly linked to Mozambique’s history of migration. For decades, trains carried workers to South African mines, a movement that fractured families yet underscored resilience. Set against this backdrop, the performance draws out the themes of love and absence woven into Baloi’s original.

As Mozambique marks 50 years of independence, Chonguiça frames the song as part of a larger trilogy dedicated to the nation’s influential artists. Following his 2023 single “Dá Ou Não Dá” with Mr Kuka, this latest release ties memory to present creativity, extending Baloi’s legacy while affirming Mozambique’s ongoing cultural vitality.

“Na Ku Randza (A Tribute to Gito Baloi)” is available now. Stream and listen to the single HERE