Musekiwa Chingodza was born into a family of great mbira players in Mwangara village, Murewa, Zimbabwe and began playing mbira at the age of five. Through listening to other gwenyambira, or great mbira players, he developed a strong attachment to and love for mbira music. He says, “Our music is both medicine and food, as mbira has the power to heal and to provide for people. Mbira pleases both the living and the dead.”

He was a member of Panjea and composed the hit song “Ganda” on Panjea’s Zimbabwean album. He taught mbira at Prince Edward School in Harare for 14 years and continues to be in demand to play mbira at ceremonies in Zimbabwe. Musekiwa is a renowned singer, dancer and drummer and plays both mbira dzavadzimu/nhare and nyunga nyunga. He arranges and teaches Zimbabwean- style marimba, and loves to work with children, youth, and adults.

This Special Guest Performance is presented by the UK School of Music and the Commonwealth Institute for Black Studies.

For more info, contact: donna.kwon@uky.edu