Based in Lisbon, Terrakota started in 1999 and made a splash on the Portuguese musical scene thanks to their amazing live power and energy. Their music based on Senegalese percussion, reggae and African rhythms with a touch of samba, soukouss, salsa, dub, rap and flamenco results in a musical celebration without borders. Guitar, bass and drums meet traditional instruments like n’goni, sabar (Senegalese percussion), sitar, balafon, mbira and oud with abundant spectacular dancing by the beautiful Angolan singer Romi.

Terrakota has been developing an international career since the early beginnings, but it was their completely self-produced third album “OBA TRAIN” (2007) that gained general credit all over Europe. The album was unanimously considered their best one because the sound and energy got so close to their live power and the positive feeling they irradiate during concerts. It took them on a powerful ‘Oba Train tour’ trough Europe’s biggest summer festivals, becoming one of the continent’s leading world fusion bands.

The video clip of the single ‘É Verdade?’ (Is it real?) won the MTV Music Video Awards in Portugal. A great accomplishment for a militant song about media manipulation. Terrakota’s fourth album will be released in 2010.

“Each new release finds the group drawing on a ever-widening palette of influences and also combining these influences with greater ease and confidence. If the first album sounded like someone spinning a radio dial from station to station, the latest gets together as though it’s one radio station: a crazy, culture-and-genre-blending channel called radio Terrakota.” fROOTS, April 2008

“Some have called Terrakota the African version of Mano Negra thanks to the driving vitality they display on stage. The overall impression is of a group with a thirst to mix in all their musical roots, allied with a profound respect for the complexity of their styles. Led by the effervescent voice of Romi Anauel and the prolific percussions Terrakota blends together. Portugal can have confidence in the talents of these multi-cultivated ambassadors.” MondoMix, June 2007

Mix: International Women’s Rights Day – 100% Female Power!

For International Women’s Rights Day, we play tribute to all women in music with this Strictly Female mix going from afrobeat, Lusophone sounds & ethiogrooves over Arab, reggae & dub to Latin, hip-hop & global bass. Power to the Women! Tracklist: Organic Soul – Frap Frap The Afrorockerz feat. Ruth Tafébé –…

Artists: Actitud Maria Marta , Akua Naru , Asmara All Stars , ChocQuibTown , Dona Cila do Coco , Dub Colossus , Estelle Goldfarb , Family Atlantica , Golpe Seko , Jah9 , Karol Conka , Lura , Maguaré , Minyeshu , Mo'Kalamity , Obsesion , Pongo Love , Quantic , Sia Tolno , Skip&Die , SUPERSAN , Terrakota , The Afrorockerz , The Skints , Watcha Clan

Podcast: Radio Mukambo #505 – Tribute to Scratch: Rest in Dub

Last Sunday the Upsetter Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, the greatest producer of reggae history, passed away aged 85. He left us a wealth of reggae and dub music from Bob Marley and The Congos to contemporary collaborations with bands from around the globe. We listen to some of his work with…

Artists: Alma Afrobeat Ensemble , Almamegretta , Andre Sampaio , Bixiga 70 , Buguinha Dub , Dub de Gaita , Frente Cumbiero , Jallanzo , Lee Scratch Perry , Mad Professor , Madu , Naná Vasconcelos , Paolo Baldini DubFiles , Terrakota , The Anthronauts , Victor Rice

Podcadst: Radio Mukambo #487 – Women’s Voices

Specially for International Women’s Day, this podcast is entirely dedicated to women’s voices. And for the first time in 10 years, basically all tracks come from Be My Voice, a NYP Records-compilation by Global Riddims and Mukambo. Discover 15 female artists from around the world fighting for female rights and…

Artists: Belen Natali , Bomba Estereo , Chalart58 , Dawtas of Aya , Doña Onete , Huw Marc Bennett , Insólito Universo , Instigator Afrobeat Orchestra , Ko Shin Moon , La Dame Blanche , Liraz , Malecon , Samba de Coco Raízes de Arcoverde , Terrakota