Buraka Som Sistema is an electronic music project from Portugal, specializing in the kuduro genre, and are generally credited with creating the "progressive kuduro" variant [1] and have been awarded an MTV European Music Award [2].

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Origins

Buraka Som Sistema was founded in 2006 by João Barbosa (Li'l John), Rui Pité (DJ Riot), Andro Carvalho (Conductor) and Kalaf Ângelo.

Barbosa and Pité were producers from the Cool Train Crew collective, for which Kalaf was a frequent vocal collaborator. They were interested in creating a kuduro project, and had previously worked together as 1-UIK Project. They met Carvalho, a hip-hop producer from Angola and member of the hip-hop band Conjunto Ngonguenha, while he was in Portugal ^[3].

They took their name, Buraka, comes from the freguesia of Buraca in the city of Amadora, part of the Lisbon Metropolitan Area.

Career

Their first release was From Buraka to the World , an EP released on the Portuguese label Enchufada, which include the single "Yah!", featuring vocals from Angolan hip-hop MC Petty. It was followed by another Petty vocalized track, "Wawaba", and a re-release of From Buraka to the World , expanded to full album.

After touring in several European countries, including playing at the Glastonbury Festival and Roskilde Festival, the three producers released "Sound of Kuduro" in 2007, which features rapping by M.I.A., DJ Znobia, Saborosa and Puto Prata. The track was a precursor to their second album, Black Diamond , which was released in 2008 by Sony BMG, followed by a new single, "Kalemba (Wegue Wegue)", with vocals by Pongolove.

Their songs have been on the popular UK Skins (TV series), both on the second and third seasons. Songs include "Luanda/Lisboa" from their latest album.

Discography

Studio Albums

Year	Album	Chart positions				Sales	Certifications (sales thresholds)
		POR	BEL	UK	Top World
2006	From Buraka to the World Originally released as an EP Later re-released as a full album with extra tracks	—	—	—	—	POR:-	AFP: -
2008	Black Diamond First full studio album Released: November, 2008	7	54	—	8	POR: 12,000+ BEL:- UK:- WW:40,000+	AFP:Gold

Singles

Year	Title	Chart Positions				Album
		POR	UK	BEL	EUR
2007	"Yah"	24	-	-	-	From Buraka to the World
	"Wawaba (v. 1.8)"	30	-	-	-	From Buraka to the World
2008	"Sound of Kuduro" featuring DJ Znobia, M.I.A.	29	-	-	-	Black Diamond
	"Kalemba (Wegue Wegue)"	1 [4]	-	-	141	Black Diamond
2009	"Aqui Para Vocês (feat. Deize Tigrona)"	11	-	-	278	Black Diamond

Awards

In the MTV Europe Music Awards 2007 they were 8th (out of 19) in the New Sounds of Europe International Competition and were one of the nominees for Best Portuguese Act. In the MTV Europe Music Awards 2008 they were awarded the Best Portuguese Act and were nominees for Best European Act.

MTV Europe Music Awards

The MTV Europe Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony established in 1994 by MTV Europe.

Year	Nominated work	Award	Result
2007	Buraka Som Sistema	New Sounds of Europe	Nominated
	Buraka Som Sistema	Best Portuguese Act	Nominated
2008	Buraka Som Sistema	Best Portuguese Act	Won

Golden Globes

The Golden Globes is an annual awards ceremony by Portuguese TV station SIC.

Year	Nominated work	Award	Result
2009	Buraka Som Sistema	Group Of The Year	Won

References

1. Blitz (Portuguese music magazine) online artist database
2. Eleanor Conway presents Buraka Som Sistema podcast
3. Buraka Som Sistema Interview
4. Billboard