Tananas, is a South African band formed in 1987. Originally it consisted of Mozambican

Mozambique

Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...

 Gito Baloi

Gito Baloi

Gito Baloi was an African musician, born in Mozambique. Originally known for his collaborations and as a member of the trio Tananas, his haunting voice and bass guitar also shine through his solo albums "Ekhaya", Na Ku Randza", "Herbs & Roots" and the posthumously released "Beyond"...

 (bass and vocals), Ian Herman

Ian Herman

Ian Herman is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Carlton and Richmond in the Australian Football League .-External links:* at Blueseum...

 (drums and percussion) and Steve Newman

Steve Newman

Steve Newman is an accomplished South African acoustic guitarist, and was a founder member of the popular African group Tananas. For thirty years Newman has been collaborating with fellow South African guitarist, Tony Cox. He is also one of The Aquarian Quartet, consisting of Tony Cox, Syd Kitchen...

 (acoustic guitar). First recorded by the independent label Shifty Records

Shifty Records

Founded by Lloyd Ross and Ivan Kadey, Shifty Records was a South African anti-apartheid record label which existed for over a decade beginning 1982...

. Tananas combines jazz, Mozambican salsa and township jive (or mbaqanga

Mbaqanga

Mbaqanga is a style of South African music with rural Zulu roots that continues to influence musicians worldwide today. The style originated in the early 1960s.-History:...

). They have released eight albums, the last two on the Sony label.

Tananas have built a loyal following in their home country since the late 1980s, and they have performed at WOMAD festivals around the world. They have worked individually or as a band with Paul Simon

Paul Simon

Paul Frederic Simon is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist.Simon is best known for his success, beginning in 1965, as part of the duo Simon & Garfunkel, with musical partner Art Garfunkel. Simon wrote most of the pair's songs, including three that reached number one on the US singles...

 and Sting, and have shared a stage with the likes of Bonnie Raitt

Bonnie Raitt

Bonnie Lynn Raitt is an American blues singer-songwriter and a renowned slide guitar player. During the 1970s, Raitt released a series of acclaimed roots-influenced albums which incorporated elements of blues, rock, folk and country, but she is perhaps best known for her more commercially...

, Suzanne Vega

Suzanne Vega

Suzanne Nadine Vega is an American songwriter and singer known for her eclectic folk-inspired music.Two of Vega's songs reached the top 10 of various international chart listings: "Luka" and "Tom's Diner"...

 and Youssou N'dour

Youssou N'Dour

Youssou N'Dour is a Senegalese singer, percussionist and occasional actor. In 2004, Rolling Stone described him as, in Senegal and much of Africa, "perhaps the most famous singer alive." He helped develop a style of popular music in Senegal, known in the Serer language as mbalax, a type of music...

.

The band broke up in 1993, but has reunited occasionally since then.

Members

• Steve Newman
  Steve Newman
  Steve Newman is an accomplished South African acoustic guitarist, and was a founder member of the popular African group Tananas. For thirty years Newman has been collaborating with fellow South African guitarist, Tony Cox. He is also one of The Aquarian Quartet, consisting of Tony Cox, Syd Kitchen...
  
  , guitar
  Guitar
  The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
  
  
• Gito Baloi
  Gito Baloi
  Gito Baloi was an African musician, born in Mozambique. Originally known for his collaborations and as a member of the trio Tananas, his haunting voice and bass guitar also shine through his solo albums "Ekhaya", Na Ku Randza", "Herbs & Roots" and the posthumously released "Beyond"...
  
  , bass and vocals
• Ian Herman, drums and percussion

Discography

• Tananas - 1988
• Spiral - 1990
• Orchestra Mundo - 1994
• Time - 1994
• Unamunacua - 1996
• The Collection - 1997
• Seed - 1999
• Alive in Jo'burg - 2001