Born in Paris, France, 1965. Mawuena Kodjovi is a multi-instrumentalist (Guitar, Bass, Piano, Drums, Percussions, Alto Saxophone, Trumpet, Singer, etc.) who grew up in Togo, West Africa, his father’s home country. 

 

The first musical Mawuena learned was guitar while sitting in and listening to his older brother and friends rehearsing for their church ensemble. However, Mawuena was  more interested in playing and singing pop music and genres from around the world from West African High life, Afro-beat and Soukous, to reggae, Rock'n' roll, Afro-Cuban, Salsa, Jazz and more.

 

Since his early childhood, Mawuena was surrounded by a wide variety of musical instruments, both traditional and modern. His natural curiosity quickly developed and he started exploring music and instruments more and more; "If an instrument stays in my environment, I will surely explore it at some point..."

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Back in France at age 10, his mother, from Martinique, encouraged him to attend a classical music conservatoire to study music theory.

 

Mawuena would later meet French Jazz guitarist Gilles Rea, with whom he discovered the universe of Jazz bebop improvisation. Mawuena fell in love with that style that he deemed it to be ideal ground for expressing his fertile creativity. Never too far from his Afro Caribbean roots though, Mawuena's music naturally integrated the entire cultural rainbow. The result was very colorful and vibrant music. Mawuena’s music is a fine combination of musical traditions and contemporary approach, where Jazz, Latin and Afro Caribbean styles fusion.

 

Upon arrival in New York City in the Fall of 1998, Mawuena was introduced to Nigerian Master Drummer and legend Babatunde Olatunji by jazz musician Ira Coleman. That encounter set  him on a 5 year journey across the US and Canada with the "Drums of Passion", performing and teaching West African rhythms and cultures with "Baba".  During that period of time, Mawuena also collaborated briefly with numerous world class artists such as, Dorothy Massuka,Joan Baez, Roswell Rudd, Lorraine Klaasen, Mamadou Diabate, Matt Harding, Chiwoniso Maraire, Maria de Barros, Mai Lingani, and many more.

In 2003, Mawuena created the African Brothers Collective in collaboration with Senegalese Bass player Thierno Camara and Ivory Coast drummer Abou Diarrassouba. Together they performed in many major venues such as: S.O.B's, Brooklyn Museum, Sugar Bar, Satalla, Farafina, Shrine, St Nicks Pub, Joe's pub, Zinc Bar, and many festivals in New York City.

 

After dissolution of the band in 2007, Mawuena began working with various artists from all musical genres, as well as producing and recording his own musical creations.

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Since 2010, Mawuena has been member of the world class band

"alSarah and the Nubatones", co-founded by Soudani singer alSarah and Egyptian percussionist Rami el Asser. 

 

Mawuena's interests range from music, painting, and tennis to creating musical instruments and still learning new ones...

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