Who is Mngwa? [ming-wah]

MNGWA takes its name from a giant cat that once stalked the jungles of eastern Africa. A 9-piece band made up of Russians, Mexicans, and Canadians, they are a strange beast indeed. What began with the intention of playing South American cumbia has quickly evolved into something much more nebulous.

Mixing in elements of psychedelic rock, dub, African rhythms, and vocals in four languages, MNGWA injects the local music scene with a fresh global perspective. They call it “Vancumbia Ambush”.

Based in East Vancouver, MNGWA is earning a reputation as a juggernaut party band, hosting underground shows that include video projections, costumes, puppets, live artwork, and a colourful entourage of weirdos. MNGWA has an album in the works, festival appearances this summer, and plans to broadcast their sound into the distant cosmos…