H’Sao

Territory represented: international

H’Sao: a family; a band. Caleb, Mossbass, Israel and Taroum Rimtobaye and their childhood friends, brothers Charles and Service Ledjebgue are the six group members. Originally from Chad, they now have between 23 and 33 years old and are now living in Montreal.

Originally known as Hirondelle (Swallow), the band renames itself in 1995. It becomes H’Sao, meaning literally “Saos’ Swallow”, the Saos being the ancestors of the people of Chad.

Made of virtuoso singers with amazing a cappella renditions, that they master to perfection and that single it out on the World Music scene, this young, talented group draws inspiration from Gospel, traditional African music and its chadian roots. To this they add a love of soul, jazz and R&B. H’Sao blends all these styles with a joyous appreciation of African rhythms. The voices are magnificent, true and powerful, their original compositions, their unique style, the energy on stage, contagious… and lets not forget the mesmerizing numbers of African dance performed by certain band members. No show is ever too long for them or their audiences

Since its inception, H’Sao’s African beat and message of hope has resonated throughout the world, from France to Australia, by way of Haiti, Sweden, Canada and South Africa.

Vol 235, the second H’Sao album, was released in September 2009.

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