Fany Mpfumo

Country	Moçambique

Fany Pfumo (also known as Fany Mpfumo) was a highly influential Mozambican singer and songwriter, born in Lourenço Marques (now Maputo) on October 18, 1928. He is widely celebrated as one of the founders and most prominent artists of the marrabenta musical style. Starting his career from humble beginnings, playing an "oil tin guitar" in the suburbs of Maputo, he eventually moved to South Africa to seek better opportunities. While in Johannesburg, he had the chance to record with His Master's Voice, which led to international fame, particularly with his timeless song, Loko ni kumbuka Jorgina ("When I remember Georgina"), a track that remains one of the best-known in marrabenta and Mozambican pop music. Pfumo's distinctive sound blended the rhythms of marrabenta with elements of jazz and South African kwela music. He performed with several bands throughout the 1950s and 1960s, and also recorded multiple solo singles, earning him the title "King of Radio" in 1964 in Mozambique. Although he achieved international recognition, he struggled to maintain a stable living from his music after Mozambique's independence in 1975, and he passed away relatively poor in Maputo on November 3, 1987. His simple, humorous, and vibrant songs continue to inspire new generations, and his work is considered central to the country's musical history.