"I never imagined that my music could reach so many people. The Mbenga Live Session gave me that space and that confidence. It's just the beginning," declared Cynthia Soares at the end of the concert.
A sold-out venue, a captivated audience, and the certainty of witnessing the dawn of a promising career marked Cynthia Soares' recent concert at the Mbenga Live Session, in the Radio Mozambique Auditorium Studio. The 24-year-old singer-songwriter hadn't yet had a concert entirely her own. Now she has. And hardly anyone who was there will forget the night.
Families, friends, and admirers packed the space; many arrived in time for the soundcheck, a display of anticipation rarely seen at concerts by emerging artists.
The young band took the stage first. Júlio, on keyboards, was the silent anchor of the night – never overpowering, but without him nothing would have worked. Kolin, on drums, provided the right pulse: firm when needed, restrained when the music demanded space, and explosive when necessary. Kelvin, on bass, was the backbone, discreet, but each note he played sustained the sound like an invisible column.
Lucas, on guitar, confessed before the concert that he was a fan of Albino Mbie. And he played accordingly: calmly, confidently, with solos that never threw the band off balance. Chabir, on saxophone, showed that he knows Moreira's style but is searching for his own place. And he found it that night, in every phrase he breathed.
In the backing vocals, Nephew 258 and Rossana performed like goldsmiths, never ahead, never behind, always in the exact place where they should be.
In the dressing room, the former broadcast studio, adapted from the beginning of the project, there are no mirrors. Cynthia dressed without reservations: jeans, a light blouse, and high, shiny shoes, which contrasted with the humility of the rest of her outfit and recalled the stature of the artist who was beginning to assert herself.
When she took the stage, her voice was briefly lost due to a sound imbalance, quickly corrected by the technicians. From there, Cynthia delivered a show that revisited her career, alternating between well-known songs and unreleased tracks.
The duets were one of the highlights of the night. "Kho Kho Kho" with Nephew 258 was impeccable. The song, with its Afrobeat touch, drove the audience wild. "Brisa do Olhar" with Denilson LA hinted at a future hit.
Special guest John Francy performed solo on "Minha Flor". Lenox, who didn't appear for the planned duet on "Ainda Tens Efeito", showed up at the end, went on stage to apologize, and finished the duet.
The setlist also included "Comando", "Não te esqueci", "Labirinto", "Espelho", "Céu Azul", "Distance", a mix of well-known and unreleased tracks that are expected to be featured on the artist's first album.
One of the most moving moments occurred during Badjero's performance of "Ai Menina": the musician asked the audience to stand up, turned off the lights, and dozens of cell phones lit up in the room, creating an atmosphere of great camaraderie.
The concert was part of the 2026 season of Mbenga Live Session, a project of the Mbenga Arts and Reflections Platform in partnership with Rádio Cidade 97.9 FM, which has been promoting new Mozambican music with a solidarity entrance fee. In the end, the general feeling was that they had witnessed a concert that marked the birth of a star.
"This is our purpose: to give voice to new Mozambican music, to create a stage and an audience for those who are starting out," stated Hélio Nguane, curator and creative director of Mbenga Live Session.
"I never imagined that my music could reach so many people. Mbenga Live Session gave me that space and that confidence. It's just the beginning," declared Cynthia Soares at the end of the concert.
(By Hélio Nguane)
