Buraka Som Sistema

Origins

Buraka Som Sistema was formed in 2002 by Branko (João Barbosa), Rui Pité (DJ Riot), Andro Carvalho (Conductor), and Kalaf Epalanga. Barbosa and Pité were producers from the Cool Train Crew collective, where Kalaf often sang; they had previously worked together as 1-UIK Project. Carvalho, a hip-hop producer from Angola and member of Conjunto Ngonguenha, met them while in Portugal. The name Buraka comes from the freguesia of Buraca in Amadora, a Lisbon suburb, and is a Portuguese word-for-word translation of "Buraka Sound System" that keeps English word order.

Career

Their first release was the EP From Buraka to the World on the Portuguese label Enchufada, which included the single "Yah!" featuring Angolan MC Petty. After touring Europe, including Glastonbury and Roskilde festivals, they released "Sound of Kuduro" in 2007 with M.I.A., DJ Znobia, Saborosa, and Puto Prata. Their second album Black Diamond came out in 2008 on Sony BMG, followed by the single "Kalemba (Wegue Wegue)" with Pongolove.

They later signed to Aftercluv Dance Lab, a Latin EDM label from Universal Music. On 1 July 2016 they curated the Globaile event at Torre de Belém as part of Festas de Lisboa, performing what was thought to be their last concert. They reunited on 11 July 2026 at NOS Alive.

Awards

At the 2007 MTV Europe Music Awards, Buraka Som Sistema placed 8th out of 19 in the New Sounds of Europe International Competition and was nominated for Best Portuguese Act. In 2008 they won the Best Portuguese Act award at the same ceremony. They were also nominated for Best Portuguese Act in 2009.

The Golden Globes, an annual ceremony by Portuguese TV station SIC, awarded them Group Of The Year in 2009. Their album Black Diamond received the European Border Breakers Award in 2009, which honors artists who reach audiences outside their home country with a first internationally released album. On 25 October 2014 they won the BEFFTA International Entertainment Icons award.