Simon Chauke & Pamoja is an exciting 5-piece world music band based in London. A brainchild of South African born Simon Chauke, Pamoja has been performing their African sounds around London and beyond for over 3 years. Pamoja is a Swahili word meaning togetherness or the spirit of solidarity. 2007 saw the band perform at Nottingham Live Music Festival at an event to celebrate the formal abolition of slave trade. The band also got a chance to support on his UK tour one of Zimbabwe’s biggest legends, Oliver Mtukudzi. Pamoja was asked to support him at his Chepstow Racecourse show in South Wales, which was a lifetime ambition for Simon to support one of his idols.

 Having grown up in the Apartheid South Africa, Simon’s music carries a message of love, peace and togetherness. What makes Simon’s music infectious is because it is simple yet carries deep and powerful message to the audience. He sings about real issues affecting ordinary people. For example, he sings about xenophobia, which is major issue on the news at present in South Africa. Pamoja’s performances have always received huge reviews from the audiences.

Pamoja is made up of Charlton born Sam McGowan on lead guitar, Liverpool born Keith Miller on electric guitar, London born Dave Auguste on bass guitar and French born Thierry Deneux on drums. Led by Simon on electro-acoustic guitar and lead vocals, this band has had audiences dancing and singing along in their gigs.

 Pamoja has appeared in many bars and pubs around London. Some of the venues where they played are 12 Bar Club, The Green Note, The Caernarvon Castle, The Hope and Anchor, Brixton JAMM, The Comedy Pub and many others.