Vintani Nafassi

Who is Vintani Nafassi?

Vintani Afonso Nafassi is a Mozambican artist, musician, dancer, composer, choreographer and independent artist-researcher whose practice is rooted in African cultural heritage, with a particular focus on Makonde traditions.

Born in Maputo, Mozambique, Vintani has developed a multidisciplinary artistic practice that brings together music, dance, performance, storytelling and cultural research. His work explores the relationship between ancestral knowledge and contemporary artistic expression, creating spaces where tradition can be preserved, questioned and reinvented.

He holds a Master’s degree in African Music and Performance from the University of Cape Town, where his research examined the historical and cultural connections between Makonde performance traditions in Mozambique and Jako Malabar traditions from Réunion Island.

What does he do?

Vintani works across several interconnected fields:

Music and performance — as a singer, percussionist, instrumentalist and composer.
Dance and choreography — developing works rooted in Mozambican and African movement traditions.
Artistic research — investigating memory, heritage, identity and the transmission of cultural knowledge.
Teaching and facilitation — sharing traditional music, dance, percussion and African performance practices through workshops and educational programmes.
Interdisciplinary collaboration — working with artists, researchers, cultural organisations and communities across Africa and internationally.

His artistic approach is based on the meeting point between tradition and contemporary creation, using performance as a way of keeping cultural knowledge alive while allowing it to evolve.

What kind of work does he develop?

Vintani develops performance projects, concerts, workshops, choreographic works, artistic research and intercultural collaborations.

His current practice is strongly connected to Makonde cultural heritage and to questions of memory, ancestry, identity, migration and cultural transmission. He works with traditional and contemporary instruments, voice, movement and storytelling, often creating intimate and collaborative performance environments.

Projects such as Sopros da Terra Makonde reflect this direction: a contemporary musical performance inspired by Makonde ancestral knowledge, sound worlds and cultural memory.

His research also informs his artistic practice. Rather than treating tradition as something static, Vintani approaches heritage as a living process — something that can be performed, transmitted, transformed and reinterpreted across generations and borders.

He has performed, taught and collaborated internationally in countries including Mozambique, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Portugal, Brazil, China, Norway, Sweden, Germany, Eswatini and Réunion Island.

Contact

For performances, artistic collaborations, workshops, research projects, cultural programmes, teaching opportunities or international partnerships:

Vintani Nafassi
Maputo, Mozambique / Portugal

Email: vintaninafassi@gmail.com
Alternative: nafassiart@gmail.com
Website: vintaninafassi.com

For professional enquiries, collaborations and bookings, please get in touch by email.

MusicDance- Improvisation

Live perfomance

Music & Audio Listen & connect.

MY APPROACH

Vintani Afonso Nafassi works at the intersection of tradition and innovation, creating artistic experiences that celebrate African identity, memory, and resilience. His approach is rooted in community-based research, intercultural dialogue, and the revitalization of ancestral knowledge through contemporary music, dance, and storytelling.

Drawing from his Makonde heritage and years of experience across Africa, Europe, and Latin America, Vintani blends performance, education, and cultural activism to promote meaningful connections between past and present. Whether through stage performances, workshops, or academic collaborations, his work invites audiences to reflect, participate, and reimagine Africa’s role in global culture.

Core elements of Vintani’s approach:

Ancestral Roots: Engaging with traditional knowledge, rituals, and aesthetics, especially from the Makonde people.
Contemporary Expression: Using modern tools and global languages to interpret African cultural heritage.
Collaborative Creation: Working with communities, artists, and scholars to co-create meaningful cultural experiences.
Art for Empowerment: Promoting education, self-expression, and social transformation through the arts.