Upcoming concert dates

Press Quotes

"Featuring a membership from all across the world, this Vancouver-based Latin cumbia, soul, psychedelic, funk groove unit keeps on mining its myriad influences to make groovy, trippy and fun tunes"

- Stuart Derdeyn, Vancouver Sun

"Their true talent can only be experienced with a live music show in the outdoors"

- Steve Marlow, !Earshot Magazine

"Vancouver octet MNGWA might take its name from an imaginary creature, but its grooves are so real"

- Stuart Derdeyn, Vancouver Sun

"The Strange One is a hugely promising debut"

- Songlines Magazine (UK)

"Like a cultural rainbow, the music of MNGWA runs the spectrum of ethnic genres: latin, gypsy, balkan, dub, russian, carribean, mexican. You can add to that some contemporary indie folk, psych rock and a hint of a country twang. It’s a rich, intoxicating brew. An absolute delight. MNGWA calls it Vancumbia, and who knows it may be the sound of the future. I, for one, hope so."

- Mark Anthony Brennan, Ride the Tempo Music Blog

"The sound they’re creating is as eclectic as their backgrounds"

- Ruby Woodruff, Beatroute Magazine

"Mngwa are stringing together a number of cultural touchstones"

- Exclaim! Magazine

"Le groupe Mngwa, formé de 8 musiciens, propose des rythmes entraînants et des concerts pleins d'énergie à leurs fans. Si vous les voyez en spectacle, vous ne pourrez pas rester assis sur votre chaise."

- ICI Radio-Canada

Who is Mngwa? [ming-wah]

Canadian 8-piece band MNGWA drifts on the far northern shore of the blooming Latin Alternative music movement. Since 2013, these pioneers of prog cumbia have been crafting a sound all their own, mixing Latin American and African rhythms with psych rock, funk, reggae, hip hop and more. With mixed Mexican, Russian and Canadian backgrounds, every new composition is a synthesis of different musical approaches and traditions.

MNGWA's full-length debut The Strange One demonstrated their spectral sonic ambitions, complete with horns and ancient stringed instruments. On their latest Crackadoom EP, MNGWA's sound is more stripped down and faithful to their live performances. Tracked without a metronome, Crackadoom has a living, breathing quality, and MNGWA's signature blend of cumbia and psychedelic rock is more intertwined than ever. Now partnered with US record label Peace & Rhythm, MNGWA is poised to bring their strange new breed of global music to an international audience of sonic thrill seekers.

Past Shows

  • November 23, 2019
    Cumberland, BC, Canada
    w/ True Loves @ Waverley Hotel
  • November 22, 2019
    Powell River, BC, Canada
    McKinney’s Vintage Pub
  • November 21, 2019
    Victoria, BC, Canada
    Garden City Grooves VI @ Studio Robazzo
  • October 5, 2019
    Vancouver, BC, Canada
    The Strange One LP release at Rickshaw Theatre
  • September 28, 2019
    North Vancouver, BC, Canada
    Shipyards Festival
  • August 17, 2019
    Dunster, BC, Canada
    Robson Valley Music Festival
  • August 16, 2019
    Revelstoke, BC, Canada
    Summer Street Fest
  • August 15, 2019
    Enderby, BC, Canada
    Lorenzo’s Cafe
  • August 14, 2019
    Kelowna, BC, Canada
    Parks Alive!
  • August 3-4, 2019
    ArtsWells Festival
    Wells, BC, Canada
  • April 4 / April 14, 2019
    Vancouver, BC, Canada
    Cherry Blossom Festival
  • March 23, 2019 Vancouver, BC, Canada w/ Polyrhythmics @ Rickshaw Theatre
  • October 27, 2018
    Vancouver, BC, Canada
    Parade of Lost Souls
  • October 24, 2018
    Vancouver, BC, Canada
    Calabash Bistro
  • September 14, 2018
    Nanaimo, BC, Canada
    Nanaimo Bar
  • September 13, 2018
    Nanaimo, BC, Canada
    Global Groove @ VIU Pub
  • July 22, 2018
    Surrey, BC, Canada
    Surrey Fusion Festival
  • July 21, 2018
    Crawford Bay, BC, Canada
    Starbelly Jam Festival
  • July 19, 2018
    Kelowna, BC, Canada
    Parks Alive!
  • July 14, 2018
    Horsefly, BC, Canada
    Arts on the Fly Festival
  • July 6, 2018
    Vancouver, BC, Canada
    Wise Hall w/ Robin Layne Band, Malagrupa
  • April 26, 2018
    Vancouver, BC, Canada
    Vancouver World Music Festival @ Guilt & Co.
  • November 23, 2017
    Vancouver, BC, Canada
    Zimbamoto Album Release @ WISE Hall
  • September 1, 2017
    Richmond, BC, Canada
    Richmond World Festival
  • August 12, 2017
    Burnaby, BC, Canada
    One Love Westcoast Festival
  • July 9, 2017
    Vancouver, BC, Canada
    Carnaval del Sol
  • June 25, 2017
    Vancouver, BC, Canada
    Vancouver Dragon Boat Festival
  • May 5, 2017
    Victoria, BC, Canada
    Victoria Events Centre with Compassion Gorilla
  • March 3, 2017
    Vancouver, BC, Canada
    Chutzpah! Festival with Marbin @ Biltmore Cabaret
  • October 15, 2016
    Vancouver, BC, Canada
    Opening for Quantic @ Imperial
  • September 23, 2016
    Vancouver, BC, Canada
    WISE Hall with Compassion Gorilla
  • July 23, 2016
    Forest Grove, BC, Canada
    Hootstock Festival
  • December 31, 2015
    Oaxaca City, Oaxaca, Mexico
    Txalaparta Bar Año Nuevo
  • December 30, 2015
    Oaxaca City, Oaxaca, Mexico
    Txalaparta Bar w/ Kaoz Party
  • December 27, 2015
    Tepoztlan, Morelos, Mexico
    El Mango
  • December 26, 2015
    Mexico City, Mexico
    La Bipo Coyoacán
  • September 3, 2015
    Vancouver, BC, Canada
    Vancouver Latin American Film Festival Opening Gala @ Fox Cabaret
  • August 16, 2015
    Vancouver, BC, Canada
    Latin Summer Fest @ Trout Lake
  • June 27, 2015
    Williams Lake, BC, Canada
    Backyard Speakeasy @ the Potato House
  • June 26, 2015
    Quesnel, BC, Canada
    The Occidental with Blocktreat
  • February 28, 2015
    Vancouver, BC, Canada
    MNGWA Album Release Party with Orkestar Slivovica
  • August 8, 2014
    Vancouver, BC, Canada
    Railway Club w/ Jack of Hearts & Devil the Wood Shack
  • January 18, 2014
    Vancouver, BC, Canada
    A Celebration of Life @ Studio East

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