Mombaça

Origin

Rio de Janeiro, RJ

Also known as

Genilson dos Santos

Genres

MPB, samba, soul

Instruments

voz

Biography

Mombaça, stage name of Genilson dos Santos, is a Brazilian singer, songwriter, director, and musical producer born on January 13, 1960, in Rio de Janeiro. Hailing from a musical family, he began his artistic career in childhood, performing with his family in his community. He adopted the stage name "Mombaça" in reference to a city in Kenya. His trajectory in Brazilian popular music (MPB) began to solidify in the 1980s, when he founded Trio Centelha with college peers. Throughout his career, Mombaça has stood out for his engagement in social causes, especially those related to racial integration and the black movement in Brazil, having received the "Griot" trophy from the City Council of Rio de Janeiro for his work as a singer.

A degree holder in journalism and with a background in history, Mombaça has also worked as a teacher. His discography includes albums such as "Mombaça" (1999), "Afro memória" (2002), and "Afro memória + Pretinhosidade" (2007). He has collaborated with several renowned artists of Brazilian music, such as Mart'nália, Sandra de Sá, João Suplicy, and Ana Costa, with Mart'nália being his most frequent partner. His compositions have also been recorded by other important names in MPB, such as Seu Jorge, Ana Carolina, and Gilberto Gil.

Mombaça has also been involved in directing and musical production projects, including the children's musical "As Galinhas" in 2006. His work on behalf of social causes led him to participate in the "World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance" in Durban, South Africa, in 2001. In 2022, he ran for state deputy in Rio de Janeiro, with the goal of strengthening racial and cultural discussions, although he was not elected.

Discography

• Afro Memória + Pretinhosidade (2013)
• Afro Memória (2017)