Sunday, 15th before masx
B4 MASX will be held on March 15, 2026, one day before the official start of the festival. This gathering will serve as a welcoming moment for both local and international participants, offering a space for cultural connection, artistic sharing, and orientation for the week ahead. The pre-event will feature informal performances, music, and community interaction, setting the tone for the vibrant and collaborative spirit of MASX 2026.
Location: Galeria Piriquitas, Bairro Polana canico B
Time: 3PM
Day 1-Monday: 16th – Hoyo Welcome Party!
Hoyo Hoyo – Welcome Party! This year the welcome party will take place in #CentroCulturalNtsindya, where we are going to serve traditional Mozambican dinner and time to meet your new family for the week, play games, sing and dance.
Day 2- Tuesday 17th
Global Groove Exchange – After dinner we stay around for Global Groove Exchange, the celebration that unites rhythms, cultures, and bodies in motion! On this vibrant night of the Mozambique Afro Swing Exchange, dancers from all corners of the world come together to exchange steps, smiles, and stories to the sounds of the best swing, jazz, and African rhythms. Get ready for an unforgettable experience where Lindy Hop meets Marrabenta, the groove is global, and the dance floor belongs to everyone!
Day 4 – Wednesday 18th
Dinner followed by: Mozambican drumming and singing workshop. Xitiko Ni Mbaula- Afro Beach Party (Talk about Building a safe supportive dance community?) Xitiko Ni Mbaula is the wooden triangle that brings the fire to life. This is our African party that will take you to the roots of Mozambican tradition until late hours. Before the drumming, singing workshop and Xitiko Ni Mbaula Talking we are going to have a social dancing.
Day 5- Thursday 19th
After dinner we will have a blues workshop. After the class we will not have the party at the hostel, the night is reserved to chiiling out to discouver the ponta night vibes.
Day 6 – Friday 20th
Be Happy – Music Concert
Location: Gil Vicente Cafe e Bar
Ticket: 400MT
As part of the MASX 2025 celebration, we proudly present the “Be Happy” Music Concert — a night dedicated to rhythm, joy, and cultural unity. This vibrant concert will bring together local and international musicians, blending traditional Mozambican sounds with jazz, swing, soul, and global influences.
The “Be Happy” concert is more than a performance — it’s an invitation to celebrate life through music, share stories through sound, and dance without boundaries. Expect a soulful atmosphere, energetic rhythms, and unforgettable moments under the stars.
Join us for an evening where the spirit of happiness meets the heartbeat of Africa.
Day 7 – Saturday 21st
KETU – Dance & Music Show
“Ketu” means “We” in the Makonde language
KETU is a new production by Hodi Maputo Afro Swing, bringing together all branches of the association in a single, unified expression of rhythm, identity, and community.
Rooted in the Makonde word KETU, meaning “WE”, the show celebrates the collective spirit that defines Hodi’s journey: a movement built on tradition, collaboration, and cultural exchange. Through a dynamic blend of traditional Mozambican dance, choral singing, live band music, and Afro Swing dance, KETU takes the audience on an artistic journey that reflects Hodi’s mission to preserve and share the richness of Mozambican culture with the world.
The show features performances by:
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Makwaela Hodi – Traditional choral and percussive singing and dacing
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Companhia de Canto e Dança Hodi – Traditional Mozambican dance and song
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Banda Hodi – Live instrumental music blending local and global influences
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Hodi Swing Junior – Youth-led reinterpretations of Afro-American Swing infused with Mozambican energy
- Coral Hodi – Singing
Together, these elements form one powerful voice: KETU. A voice that speaks of heritage, resilience, joy, and the future.
KETU is more than a performance. It’s a celebration of “us” — of connection, memory, and movement.
Day 8 – Sunday 22nd
Free time in the morning and over lunch for resting or going to the local FEIMA Art Craft Market close to Kaya Kwanga
Visit to Polana Caniço – Hodi’s neighborhoods! A minibus will pick you up at Kaya Kwanga Residencial and take you to the suburb where most of Hodi dancers have grown up and still live. We will take you on a tour to the local market, listen to stories about local traditions.
Pick up in the afternoon for the last day’s adventures and goodbye party. This day the Hodi Swing Kids will be in focus! Invited teachers will be able to give swing classes to the kids that we all can join followed by a dance performance with the amazing dancers from our Youth Program “MEMORIAS DA INFANCIA”.
In the night you are welcome to our goodbye party Salani Vamakweso – Fairwell Brothers and Sisters! The night will be dedicated to having time to enjoy our new friendships over Mozambican food, music and dancing to say goodbye and thank each other for the experience.
This is from when Harlem Hot Shots came for our first Afro Swing Festival in 2014.