The Zawose Queens. DURCHLÜFTEN – 2026 Live Concerts & DJ Acts

Over four weekends this summer, the DURCHLÜFTEN music festival transforms the Schlüterhof at the Humboldt Forum into an open-air gathering place, with free admission, where musical traditions from around the world come to life and, through interaction with the audience, become living archives of culture.   

The festival will be opened onJuly 9, 2026, at 7:00 p.m.byHartmut Dorgerloh, General Director of the Humboldt Forum, andMelissa Perales, the festival’s curator. The musical program will then begin withCanto DiásporaandJatun Mama.

The Zawose Queens bring the spirit and fire of the Tanzanian Gogo tradition (Wagogo) into the present. The soaring chizeze fiddle, the humming illimba thumb piano, ngoma drums, and ecstatic polyphonic singing weave together into music rooted in ceremonies, nature, and East African pride. Pendo and Leah Zawose sing in Kigogo, infusing their music with the vibrations of their ancestors while embodying a fresh, danceable energy.

With their debut album “Maisha,” the women of the legendary Zawose family step into the spotlight for the first time as lead artists. The album blends tradition with subtle electronic textures, moving from minimalist ritual sounds to modern beats—honoring their heritage while simultaneously opening a bold new chapter.

- Price: Free admission

- Duration: 90 minutes

- Location: Schlüterhof

- Part of:Durchlüften 2026