Chiwoniso's first Date with UK fans !

Chiwoniso Maraire rocks the UK with her first UK gig!!
The feminine sound of the Zimbabwean drum and mbira echoed through the early summer Leicestershire night as Chiwoniso Maraire was backed by The Heritage Survival and Decibel over the past weekend. Chiwoniso Maraire was born in Olympia, Washington in 1976. Her father, ethnomusicologist Dumisani Maraire, taught marimba and mbira in America between 1972 and 1990, and was a renowned stage performer along with her mother, Linda Nemarundwe Maraire. ‘Musical instruments were a core element of my childhood. By the age of four I was playing mbira; “Tichazomuona”, my first recording with my parents, was released when I was nine’, remembers Chiwoniso in her biography.
The night was adorned by an array of musical talent. Central throughout the entertainment packed night was the core of the unmistaken sound of the Zimbabwean beat and rhythm in the form of chimurenga, reggae and soul. Chiwoniso says that her music has matured more with time and ‘if anything it only gets richer’. Her musical journey has been highly shaped by her late father whom she attributes her undiluted commitment to culturally rich music.
A crowd of over 120 people gathered for Chiwoniso’s first ever UK gig. The fans were treated with tunes from her early years and her latest album, ‘Rebel Woman’ was launched with great reception.
Chiwoniso has worked with many artists in Zimbabwe and on international platforms starting her career from home, with Peace Ebony and the then powerful group Andy Brown and the Storm. Chiwoniso has proved to be a feminist cultural icon .Chiwoniso has been fronting her acoustic group Chiwoniso & Vibe Culture for the past four years. From 2001 to 2004, she was also a core member of the multinational all-women’s band Women’s Voice, whose original members hailed from Norway, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, America, Israel and Algeria. She recently performed in South Africa in response to the xenophobic attacks with other southern African artists like Ishmael Lo.
Chi as she is passionately called by her fans plans to hold four UK gigs per year and is confident that the wealth of Zimbabwean music for the people in the diasporas has unmatched desire. To show artistic solidarity Chi attended the official launch of Mystery in Stone Sculpture Exhibition in Birmingham flanked by Heritage Survival from Manchester who played Mbira, Hosho and the Mighty drum.
Chiwoniso flew back to Zimbabwe on Wednesday 2 July 2008 and will soon be based in USA from where she promises to make constant contact with her UK fans.








Chiwoniso Maraire rocks the UK with her first UK gig!!
The feminine sound of the Zimbabwean drum and mbira echoed through the early summer Leicestershire night as Chiwoniso Maraire was backed by The Heritage Survival and Decibel over the past weekend. Chiwoniso Maraire was born in Olympia, Washington in 1976. Her father, ethnomusicologist Dumisani Maraire, taught marimba and mbira in America between 1972 and 1990, and was a renowned stage performer along with her mother, Linda Nemarundwe Maraire. ‘Musical instruments were a core element of my childhood. By the age of four I was playing mbira; “Tichazomuona”, my first recording with my parents, was released when I was nine’, remembers Chiwoniso in her biography.
The night was adorned by an array of musical talent. Central throughout the entertainment packed night was the core of the unmistaken sound of the Zimbabwean beat and rhythm in the form of chimurenga, reggae and soul. Chiwoniso says that her music has matured more with time and ‘if anything it only gets richer’. Her musical journey has been highly shaped by her late father whom she attributes her undiluted commitment to culturally rich music.
A crowd of over 120 people gathered for Chiwoniso’s first ever UK gig. The fans were treated with tunes from her early years and her latest album, ‘Rebel Woman’ was launched with great reception.
Chiwoniso has worked with many artists in Zimbabwe and on international platforms starting her career from home, with Peace Ebony and the then powerful group Andy Brown and the Storm. Chiwoniso has proved to be a feminist cultural icon .Chiwoniso has been fronting her acoustic group Chiwoniso & Vibe Culture for the past four years. From 2001 to 2004, she was also a core member of the multinational all-women’s band Women’s Voice, whose original members hailed from Norway, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, America, Israel and Algeria. She recently performed in South Africa in response to the xenophobic attacks with other southern African artists like Ishmael Lo.
Chi as she is passionately called by her fans plans to hold four UK gigs per year and is confident that the wealth of Zimbabwean music for the people in the diasporas has unmatched desire. To show artistic solidarity Chi attended the official launch of Mystery in Stone Sculpture Exhibition in Birmingham flanked by Heritage Survival from Manchester who played Mbira, Hosho and the Mighty drum.
Chiwoniso flew back to Zimbabwe on Wednesday 2 July 2008 and will soon be based in USA from where she promises to make constant contact with her UK fans.