Leshie Lovesong is a Singing Performance Poet, based in Botswana. In 2006, she became Exodus Live Poetry’s Slam Champion, and became a member of the collective itself in 2007. As of November 2007, the young poetess has displayed her craft at every Infinite Word Festival in Gaborone. As an advocate for Environmental Sustainability, the poet has work shopped drama scripts which included her poetry in Angola, Luanda, and Namibia, Rundu, the focus being on the Okavango River.
Dr. Mtukudzi grew up in Highfield, a poor neighborhood in Salisbury (modern-day Harare) in Southern Rhodesia, as the eldest of seven siblings[1]. While both his parents sang in a choir, they were initially not supportive of his continued interest in music, consequently breaking his first homemade guitar.[2]
He began performing in 1977 when he joined the Wagon Wheels, a band that also featured Thomas Mapfumo and fellow legendary guitarist James Chimombe. They were given the rare opportunity by Paul Tangi Mhova Mkondo, an African nationalist and music promoter, who provided money and resources to the group. With the support of Mutanga, the prayers and blessings of Amai Mutanga, he allowed them to perform at Mutanga Restaurant & Night Club (Pungwe) which, at the time, was the first and only African licensed (obtained by Mkondo) night club available for blacks under Rhodesia’s policy of segregation. Their single Dzandimomotera went gold and Tuku’s first album followed, which was also a major success. Mtukudzi is also a contributor to Mahube, Southern Africa’s “supergroup”.[3]
With his husky voice, Mtukudzi has become the most recognised voice to emerge from Zimbabwe and onto the international scene and he has earned a devoted following across Africa and beyond. A member of Zimbabwe’s KoreKore group, with Nzou Samanyanga as his totem, he sings in the nation’s dominant Shona language along with Ndebele and English. He also incorporates elements of different musical traditions, giving his music a distinctive style, known to fans as Tuku Music.
On 23 January 2019, Mtukudzi died at the age of 66, just a few months after our collaboration. May his soul rest in peace, as his legacy lives on.
Msafiri Zawose is one among the prominent contemporary Gogo musicians. His name is associated with his traditional Gogo style music, which relies heavily on the zeze and ilimba in combination with distinct lyrical harmonies.
Msafiri Zawose is the fifth child of Dr. Hukwe Zawose, The name Zawose is synonymous with Tanzanian music and tradition.
Surrounded by musicians and spending his days at the art college, Msafiri began learning music and picked up the ilimba at a young age. By his 13th birthday, he had already mastered all of the signature Gogo instruments and was already touring widely throughout the country. His international debut was a three-month tour to Japan singing, dancing, and playing ndono, ngoma, and marimba with his father’s group Chibite.
After his father’s untimely death in 2003, Msafiri resolved to pick up where his father left off.
Born in Sabie, Mpumalanga (South Africa) and based in Pretoria, Haikuu is an Indie Rap Fusion artist who draws inspiration from hip hop and guitar music. At the core of his music is the idea of storytelling, which allows his raps to co-exists synergistically with his chosen guitar soundscapes.
As an individual who had to recover from a chronic, metabolic illness, he has determined to create music that is meaningful and impactful, while also being fun and engaging. He plays multiple instruments including rhythm and lead guitar, piano, bass guitar and drums.
In 2019, Haikuu formed a five-piece band called Haikuu & The 575s. They have performed at multiple venues across South Africa and have undertaken two national tours as well.
Mosi Oa Tunya or simply referred to as MOT by its numerous followers both in Zambia and Kenya, was a band which walked in the path of ensembles like the once powerful Afro Rock giants, the Osibisa. Its demise towards the close of the 70s has not short-circuited its deep roots in the Zamrock bowels which still simmer with sounds that reveal the kind of music upon which this country thrived.
Shubert Mwarabu has years of experience in the wildlife conservation sector. Currently, Shubert is Conservation Advocacy Manager to the Southern Tanzania Elephant Program, leading a countrywide campaign to save Tanzania’s Elephants. Shubert is also a musician who sings to raise awareness on wildlife conservation and climate change issues.Shubert is the Elephant Ambassador to the African Elephant Coalition and a core member of the Global March for Elephants and Rhinos. He hopes to run youth advocacy organizations to motivate more local people to employ conservation. Upon completion of the Mandela Washington Fellowship, Shubert plans to continue his work to advocate for wildlife conservation.
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Faith Mussa comes from a family of musicians. He has been inspired by many artists throughout his life from the time he was very young. Paul Banda, Peter Mawanga, Wambali Mkandawire, are some of the inspirations he has had.
Faith started playing hand-made gallon guitars when he was 10years old in the dusty township of Ndirande in Blantyre.
Faith Mussa is an afro Soul singer, songwriter and guitarist. He is currently Malawi’s first and only “electronic 1 man band” combining traditional African vibes with Modern Sounds. He has performed at some of the world most respected festivals including Glastonbury 2017 under Beating heart, Lake of stars, Arts festival of Northern Norway 2015, World fest California 2016, Tumaini festival and many others.
The artist has worked with UNICEF, PLAN International, UNFPA, UNITED PURPOSE (formerly concern Universal) and is currently an ambassador for OXFAM and music writer for GIRL effect Malawi.
His 2nd album is set to be released early this year and will contain music recorded from all over the world with some of the best talent he has interacted with along the way.
A singer and songwriter, songbird Tribute ‘Birdie’ Mboweni was born and raised in Mkhuhlu, Mpumalanga. Having serenaded audiences in Qatar and Dubai playing with a jazz band featuring one of South African’s great jazz pianists, Sylvester Mazinyane, performing at COP17 national awareness events, as well as performing at the Earth Fest in Zambia, the petite singer is working diligently to carve a path that ensures that she too, has a place in the music industry.
Locally, she has showcased at some of the hottest stages such as the Victory Theatre, Silverstar Casino, Niki’s Oasis in Newtown, Winnie’s Jazz Club in Sandton, as well as the Rendezvous stage at the South African State Theatre as part of the Jazz and African Music Nights. After successfully delivering a stellar performance at the South African State Theatre on April 25, Tribute went on to dazzle music lovers in a 2-hour long showcase presented by Yfm 99.2’s Live N ReYired series on the 12th of May, which she followed up with a performance at Johannesburg’s number one live music showcase platform, Up & Coming on the 28th of May. She went on to give 5 stellar performances at the 2014 Grahamstown National Arts Festival, receiving a great review for her soulful offering of her own music and music that celebrates South African legends. She recently gave another stellar performance, opening for The Soil on the last leg of their nation-wide Reflections Tour at the Lyric Theater.
Tribute has made strides having come first place at the Born To Be Famous Academy’s Born To Sing Showcase, judged by lead talent scout and Native Rhythms Productions Founder Sipho Sithole and Mandisa Bardill-Kwebulana, Executive Producer at Imbumba Stage Productions. She has also participated in a couple of historical musical productions having featured in one of the two Radio 2000 Nelson Mandela celebratory songs, All About Love, as well as the International Organisation of Migrations’ I Am a Migrant Too campaign song and video.
A Boundless Southern Africa Ambassador, off the stage she is an Environment and Conservation Ambassador, working committedly and tirelessly making a difference across the country through Projekt 23 – The Green Movement, a community and schools-based environmental education, treeplanting and social upliftment non-profit organisation she co-founded in March 2009.
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania