The history of Angolan music in the United Kingdom’s diaspora cannot be told without reference to the group Os Makotas, one of the most significant and pioneering Angolan rap projects outside Angola. Founded in 1999, the group emerged from the vision and initiative of Sebastião Gomes and José Gomes (Utola), two blood cousins united by music, Angolan identity, and the need for artistic expression within a context of immigration.
From its inception, Os Makotas established themselves as an innovative and bold group. Utola, co-founder and the main driving force behind the project, brought with him extensive musical experience from Angola, which proved decisive in shaping the group’s artistic, lyrical, and technical structure. This background allowed Os Makotas to emerge with a solid identity at a time when Angolan rap was still taking its first steps outside the country.
First Angolan Rap Group in the United Kingdom:
Composed of four members, all biological siblings (Sbasta, Cbratt, Mr Nasci, and Lady B), Os Makotas became the first Angolan rap group formed in the United Kingdom, paving the way for future expressions of Angolan hip hop in the diaspora. The group stood out not only for its music, but also for the courage to occupy an artistic space that until then did not exist for Angolans in that context (within the Angolan community in the UK).
The group’s lyrics reflected social realities, love experiences, identity awareness, and deep feelings connected to family, loss, and hope, resonating both with the diaspora experience and with audiences in Angola.
“Dor de Mãe”, a Landmark Release:
Still in 1999, Os Makotas released the album “Dor de Mãe”, a work that marked their short yet intense musical journey. Another standout track on this album was the song “Melissa”. The album was produced by Utola, with co-production and technical direction by Maya Cool, consolidating a mature body of work for its time and demonstrating a high level of artistic and technical organization.
“Dor de Mãe” stood out for its emotional weight, lyrical depth, and authenticity, becoming a reference among Angolans living in the United Kingdom and in Angola.
“Boy You Know” and National & International Projection:
Subsequently, the group released the single “Boy You Know”, which featured music produced by British producer Adrian McKenzie, marking a clear rapprochement between Angolan rap and international music production.
The song gained even greater notoriety with the release of its music video, which received strong rotation in Angola and remains available on YouTube. Boy You Know was also featured in an Angolan television soap opera by Semba Comunicação, and to this day remains an important record in the history of Angolan rap in the diaspora.
End of the Project, Beginning of the Legacy:
After the release of the single “Boy You Know”, Os Makotas recorded an unreleased album, that is, an album that was never officially launched with production by SP, Utola1, Ghetto Ace, and Sbasta, and featuring artists such as Toni Laf, Kool Kleva, Little J, Edu ZP, Prodígio, D-One, Dji Tafinha, among others. The album was never released, bringing the group’s cycle to an end. Nevertheless, despite its short duration, the impact of the project was profound and long-lasting.
Os Makotas left an unforgettable mark on the history of the evolution of the Angolan community in the United Kingdom, affirming that the diaspora also produces culture, innovation, and identity. The group opened doors, inspired other young Angolans, and proved that music could be an instrument of affirmation, resistance, and collective pride.
Conclusion:
Os Makotas were not merely a musical group; they were pioneers, chroniclers of the diaspora, and builders of cultural memory. Their contribution remains alive as an integral part of the history of Angolan rap and the Angolan cultural presence in the United Kingdom.
Even in musical silence, the echo of their work continues to resonate as a testament to a generation that dared to create, represent, and leave a legacy.