Mozambican musician Deodato Siquir, born in 1975 in Maputo, stands out as a prominent figure in the Scandinavian cultural scene. Recently, he was honored with the title of Artist of the Year 2024 by the Danish initiative "Salaam Film & Dialog," a project that has been promoting cultural diversity among children and young people in Denmark for two decades through cinema, dialogue, and music.
With deep roots in Mozambican culture, Siquir has been a tireless advocate for the traditional music, dance, and instruments of Mozambique, bringing this cultural richness to Danish schools. His work not only distinguished him as the first artist from the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) to receive such recognition but also strengthened cultural ties between Mozambique and Denmark, inspiring new generations to value and preserve local traditions.
His musical journey began in Maputo, where, as a child, he started playing music on an improvised drum set and joined his first band, Escolinha Vamos Brincar.
Between 1990 and 2000, Siquir worked with various artists such as Jasde, Stewart Sukuma, and Jaguar Mondlane. At the turn of the millennium, he contributed to the album "Mozambique Relief," a collaborative project between Finnish and Mozambican musicians that raised funds for the victims of the 2000 floods.
After moving to Scandinavia in 2001, Siquir expanded his career, becoming a central figure in jazz and world music. His albums "Balanço" (2007) and "Mutema" (2011) received international acclaim, highlighting his percussive and vocal talents, and earned a place in the World Music Europe Top Ten. In 2008, he was awarded the Ngoma Mozambique Prize as Breakthrough Artist.
(By Lucas Muaga)
