Os Kiezos

[2][1] In 1963, more precisely during the month of November, Domingos António Miguel da Silva "Kituxe" gathered three his friends and neighbours, namely, Mário Anselmo "Marito" de Sousa Arcanjo, Juventino "Tininho" Sousa Arcanjo and José "Avozinho" Francisco Portugal, who were all about 12 to 16 years of age, to make music.

[3][4] Once the young group of musicians now known locally as "Os Kiezos" became known within their neighbourhood, they got the support of an entrepreneur, Bonzela Franco, who would watch them play in the streets on a daily basis.

Adolfo Coelho, who at the time was 18, slightly older than the member of Os Kiezos, was inspired at the sight of young people playing music and later introduced Kituxi, Tininho, Marito, and Avozinho to Costa Venâncio, who crafted guitars from wood sourced from a place called Panga-Panga.

A this point only Adolfo Coelho, Marito, Juventino, Fausto lemos, Kituxi and Humberto Vieira Dias remained in the group.

At an attempt to join Kutonoca, which was a popular set of events promoted by the CITA (Centro de Informação e Turismo de Angola) that was held in the most populous boroughs of suburban Luanda and hosted the best and most famous artists at that time like Negoleiros do Ritmo, Aguias Reais, Elias dia Kimuezo, Os Gingas etc... they faced resistance from Luis Montez, the show's owner.

Seeking a brighter future, they acquired their first set of sound equipment from Ti Makoi and participated in a radio program, earning 350 escudos.

[9] Throughout the period of February-September of 1970, Os Kiezos held their first major concerts at N'gola Cine for Luis Montez’s Kutonoca and Dia Do Trabalhador.

[13] They functioned similarly to Jovens do Prenda in Rebita, being assigned by the label to accompany every artist that didn't have a backing band or group and Elias Dia Kimuezo on one of his autobiographic albums.

Conjunto Merengue was composed of Carlitos Vieira Dias, the musical supervisor, part-owner of Estudios Norte and bassist of the group, Joãozinho Morgado, conga player from Negoleiros do Ritmo, José João Manuel, also known as Zé Keno, lead guitarist from Jovens do Prenda, José Joaquim Júnior, known as Zeca Tyrilene, who was a bassist and rhythm guitarist from Africa Show, Gregório Mulato, bongo player from Aguias Reais and his brother Vate Costa, who was Os Kiezos' main vocalist that left the group.

When they returned to Luanda the organist Tony Galvão, from Africa Show, joined the group along with Dulce Trindade and Gegé Faria, both guitarists.

[16] [17] They also performed at "Kuimbila Ni Kukina Semba"[18] which is an event held in the Cultural Recreational Center of Kilamba, the same place where the "Muzonguê da Tradicão" is still hosted.

Os Kiezos performing at a venue.
Crowd of the N'Gola Cine theatre.
Os Kiezos in the N'Gola Cine theater during Luis Montez's "Dia do Tabalhador". (26/02/1970)
Portrait of Marito, the leader of the group.
Members (Left to Right): Zeca Pilhas Secas, Juventino, Julinho (behind Juventino), Higino, Marito, Adolfo Coelho and Tony do Fumo
Os Kiezos during a show of political intervention during their time under Valentim de Carvalho.
Members (From Left to Right): Kituxi, Marito, Adolfo Coelho, Higino and Tony do Fumo
Os Kiezos in Europe for the Convention of Music in the International Liberation Struggle of the Peoples.
The second generation of Os Kiezos.
Os Kiezos recording in a studio.