I think Masa and I may have first met at UCLA, but we became friends through the community around The World Stage in Leimert Park. We were the guys with acoustic guitars, who would fill that room without a mic during poetry nights. We were kin.
Masa also helped to facilitate my first collaboration with Peter J Harris, “Winter in Brazil,” after I’d heard what he had done with Peter’s words.
Soon after we met, Masa partnered with Neo Muyanga to form Blk Sonshine, and beauty was taken to another level! And he continues to grow and inspire me with the power of his voice and writing.
Here’s MASAUKO’s bio:
Masauko is a Malawian-American singer/songwriter, born in Los Angeles while his parents were in political exile. His primary instruments are the acoustic guitar and the voice. Masauko’s sound is a unique mixture of Southern African traditional music with jazz, folk, funk, hip hop and reggae.
He performed at the request of Nelson Mandela in South Africa in 2005 and became a Mandela 46664 Ambassador. Mandela dared his ambassadors to use their art as a form of activism. From that time forward Masauko has used his music to support women and orphans in remote villages of Malawi.
He received a Limon Roots award in August 2014 for his unique contributions to the culture of Costa Rica through African music.
In 2022, Masauko received a certificate of recognition from Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo for his work as an activist and artist in the USA and Africa. On September 1, at First Fridays Jazz Night w/ Jason Luckett & Friends, Masauko will share songs and stories about growing up in Pasadena and making music around the world.
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