Singing for sanitation

Massukos performing in Cannes.

Credit: WaterAid / Xavier Docquin

Coming from the remote Niassa region, the members of the Mozambican band Massukos are all passionate about development.

Three of Massukos's band members work for Estamos, Mozambique's largest indigenous water, sanitation, HIV/AIDS and agriculture NGO, which is supported by WaterAid.

Another works for Ulongo, a WaterAid partner organisation which is involved in development theatre and stages plays on sanitation and raising demand in poor communities for water and sanitation services.

The band is one of Mozambique's most popular groups. Through their lyrics they encourage people to adopt good hygiene practices such as washing hands before eating or after visiting latrines.

Massukos has had great success in Mozambique and further afield. In 2005 the band was awarded the International Prize for Water, Creation and Arts at the Cannes Water Symposium in France. 

Massukos's first album, recorded in 2001 won the media award for the "Best Mozambican Group". The album went "gold", meaning it has sold over 30,000 CDs, an unusual feat in Mozambique.

The band regularly tours the country and had played a 10,000 seat venue in the capital Maputo just prior to setting out for Cannes.

Feliciano dos Santos receiving the award in Cannes, France.

Credit: WaterAid / Sandrine Occelli

Estamos Director and Massukos singer Feliciano dos Santos was thrilled to receive the award as it will further raise the band's profile, and so spread their social messages wider.

"We use Massukos to get Estamos' messages across, for instance on the importance of drinking safe water" says Santos. "This award shows that people recognise our work, which reflects the importance of it. We believe our songs can change the world and change people's behaviour.

"For example, last year we sang about ecological sanitation and after then we had many enquiries at the office from people wanting more information on building ecological sanitation latrines. As we are now famous in Mozambique, people listen to what we have to say, which gives power to our organisation."