This is a list of musicians and musical groups from Zimbabwe.

Musical groups

Barura Express Leonard Tazvivinga Dembo, also Musoro We Nyoka (born Kwangwari Gwaindepi; 29 December 1959 in Chivi – 9 April 1996), was a Zimbabwean guitar-band musician and member of the bands Barura Express and The Outsiders. Incorporating traditional Shon ...

– band *

Bhundu Boys The Bhundu Boys were a Zimbabwean band that played a mixture of chimurenga music with American rock and roll, disco, country, and pop influences. Their style became known as jit, and is quite popular across Africa, with some international success ...

–

jit Jit (also known as jiti, jit-jive and the Harare beat) is a style of popular Zimbabwean dance music. It features a swift rhythm played on drums and accompanied by a guitar. Jit evolved out many diverse influences, including domestic chimurenga, ...

and chimurenga music band *

Hohodza Portia Gwanzura & Hohodza Band is a UK based Zimbabwe Zimbabwe (), officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country located in Southeast Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers, bordered by South Africa to the south, ...

– band *

Mbira dzeNharira Mbira DzeNharira was formed by Tendayi Gahamadze in 1987 in Norton, a town 40 km west of Harare. To date they have released 11 CD and 3 DVD albums. Background Mbira dzeNharira revolutionized the sound of mbira by electrifying and rearrangi ...

–

mbira Mbira ( ) are a family of musical instruments, traditional to the Shona people of Zimbabwe. They consist of a wooden board (often fitted with a resonator) with attached staggered metal tines, played by holding the instrument in the hands and p ...

band *

Mechanic Manyeruke and the Puritans Mechanic Manyeruke and the Puritans are a Zimbabwean gospel music group. Mechanic Manyeruke, the founder of the group (born 16 August 1942) is regarded as one of the top five notable gospel music pioneers in Zimbabwe. Although Mechanic Manyer ...

–

gospel music Gospel music is a traditional genre of Christian music, and a cornerstone of Christian media. The creation, performance, significance, and even the definition of gospel music varies according to culture and social context. Gospel music is com ...

group * R.U.N.N. family –

-inspired

reggae Reggae () is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The term also denotes the modern popular music of Jamaica and its diaspora. A 1968 single by Toots and the Maytals, " Do the Reggay" was the first popular song to use ...

and rhumba group *

Siyaya ''Siyaya'' (sometimes known as ''Siyaya Arts'') are a music, dance and theatre group from Makokoba, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe Zimbabwe (), officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country located in Southeast Africa, between the Za ...

– music and dance group

Musicians

Flint Bedrock Edson Masunda (born 27 April 1985), better known by his stage name Flint Bedrock, is a Zimbabwean singer, songwriter and music producer. Born in Seke, Harare Flint moved to London at the age of 17 before settling in Leeds in 2005 where he began ...

(born 1985) – pop singer-songwriter * Mkhululi Bhebhe (born 1984) – contemporary gospel_music_gospel *Charles_Charamba_(born_1971)_–_gospel_singer *Olivia_Charamba.html" ;"title="Charles_Charamba.html" ;"title="gospel music gospel *Charles Charamba">gospel music gospel *Charles Charamba (born 1971) – gospel singer *Olivia Charamba">Charles_Charamba.html" ;"title="gospel music gospel *Charles Charamba">gospel music gospel *Charles Charamba (born 1971) – gospel singer *Olivia Charamba (1999–1999) – gospel singer *Brian Chikwava (born 1971) – writer and musician *Simon Chimbetu (1955–2005) – singer-songwriter and guitarist *James Chimombe (1951–1990) – singer and guitarist *

Musekiwa Chingodza Musekiwa Chingodza is a Zimbabwean mbira and marimba player and teacher. He was born in 1970 in Zimbabwe. Biography Musekiwa Chingodza was born in Mwangara village, Murewa, Zimbabwe, in 1970. He began playing mbira at the age of five and is se ...

(born 1970) –

and

marimba The marimba () is a musical instrument in the percussion family that consists of wooden bars that are struck by mallets. Below each bar is a resonator pipe that amplifies particular harmonics of its sound. Compared to the xylophone, the timbre ...

player * Chirikure Chirikure (born 1962) – musician and songwriter * Stella Chiweshe (born 1946) – mbira player and singer-songwriter *

Dizzy Dee Desire Sibanda (born 17 December 1985) is a Zimbabwean reggae singer and songwriter, better known by his stage name Dizzy Dee. He moved to Australia in 2007 and currently resides in Melbourne where he performs and works as a disk jockey on a re ...

(1999–1999) – Australia-based

artist *

Leonard Dembo Leonard Tazvivinga Dembo, also Musoro We Nyoka (born Kwangwari Gwaindepi; 29 December 1959 in Chivi – 9 April 1996), was a Zimbabwean guitar-band musician and member of the bands Barura Express and The Outsiders. Incorporating traditional Shona ...

(1959–1996) – guitarist and singer-songwriter; member of the band

* Leonard Zhakata (born 1968) – A Rusape born songwriter, poet and social commentator * Tehn Diamond (born 1985) –

Zimbabwean hip hop Zimbabwean Hip hop is the variety of hip hop that is popular in Zimbabwe. It emerged in the early 1990s. Prominent artists include Voltz JT, Junior Brown, Calvin, Saintfloew, Holy Ten, Mahcoy, Asaph, Kriss Newtone, Suhn, Denim Woods, Hanna, Tanto ...

musician and

rapper Rapping (also rhyming, spitting, emceeing or MCing) is a musical form of vocal delivery that incorporates "rhyme, rhythmic speech, and street vernacular". It is performed or chanted, usually over a backing beat or musical accompaniment. The ...

Chartwell Dutiro Chartwell Shorayi Dutiro (1957 – 2019) was a Zimbabwean musician, who started playing mbira when he was four years old at the protected village, Kagande; about two hours drive from Harare, where his family was moved by the Salvation Army missio ...

(born 1957) – mbira player and singer-songwriter * Mbuya Dyoko (1944–2013) – mbira player *

John Edmond John Edmond (born 18 November 1936) is a Rhodesian folk singer and retired soldier who became popular in the 1970s for his Rhodesian patriotic songs. He reached the height of his fame during the Rhodesian Bush War where he was sometimes known ...

(born 1936) –

Rhodesia Rhodesia (, ), officially from 1970 the Republic of Rhodesia, was an unrecognised state in Southern Africa from 1965 to 1979, equivalent in territory to modern Zimbabwe. Rhodesia was the ''de facto'' successor state to the British colony of S ...

folk Folk or Folks may refer to: Sociology *Nation *People * Folklore ** Folk art ** Folk dance ** Folk hero ** Folk music *** Folk metal *** Folk punk *** Folk rock ** Folk religion * Folk taxonomy Arts, entertainment, and media * Folk Plus or Fo ...

singer *

Tendayi Gahamadze Tendayi ''(Samaita)'' Gahamadze (born July 3, 1959) is a Zimbabwean artist and songwriter. Background Tendayi Gahamadze was born at his parents' farm in Musengezi and went to Mkwasha Primary School. He went to Moleli for secondary education. ...

(born 1959) – mbira player and singer-songwriter; member of

* Michael Gibbs (born 1937) – England-based

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major ...

composer *

Derek Hudson Derek Hudson (23 May 1934 – 20 December 2005) was an English-born Zimbabwean conductor. He conducted ballets and orchestras in over a dozen countries, before moving to Rhodesia in 1977 to conduct the Bulawayo Philharmonic Orchestra in Bulawa ...

(1934–2005) – English-born conductor and composer * Ngonidzashe Kambarami (born 1983) – urban grooves artist * Victor Kunonga (born 1974) – Afrojazz singer-songwriter * Forward Kwenda (born 1963) – mbira player *

Jah Prayzah Mukudzeyi Mukombe (born 4 July 1987), better known as Jah Prayzah, is a Zimbabwean contemporary musician and lead member of the band ''Third Generation''. He is popularly referred to by fans and media as "Musoja", the Shona word for "soldier", a ...

(born 1987) – Afropop and Afrojazz musician * Berita (born 1991) – Afrosoul and Afropop singer * Hope Masike mbira player and percussionist and singer *

Ignatius Mabasa Ignatius Tirivangani Mabasa (born 1971) is a Zimbabwean writer, storyteller, and musician, who writes mainly in Shona. Mabasa was born in Mount Darwin and grew up on his grandfather's farm there. He attended school in Chitungwiza, where he began ...

(born 1971) – writer and musician * Alick Macheso (born 1968) – singer-songwriter and guitarist * Safirio Madzikatire (1932–1996) – actor and musician * Takunda Mafika (1983–2011) – mbira player *

Cosmas Magaya Cosmas Magaya (5 October 1953 – 10 July 2020) was a Zimbabwean mbira musician. Background Raised in the rural areas of Mhondoro-Ngezi, Magaya played a role in the research of musicologist Paul Berliner's books ''The Soul of Mbira'' (1978) ...

(born 1953) – mbira player *

Tkay Maidza Takudzwa Victoria Rosa "Tkay" Maidza ( ; born 17 December 1995) is a Zimbabwean-born Australian singer-songwriter and rapper. Biography Maidza was born in Harare, Zimbabwe. Her parents are metallurgists. In 2001, her family moved to Australia ...

(born 1996) – Australia-based singer-songwriter and rapper * Lovemore Majaivana (born 1954) – Ndebele music singer-songwriter *

Zeke Manyika Zeke Manyika (born 23 February 1955 Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland) is a drummer, vocalist and songwriter. Career Manyika was born in Zimbabwe, but has lived in Britain for most of his life. From 1982 to 1984 he was a member of the pop grou ...

(born 1955) – England-based

rock and roll Rock and roll (often written as rock & roll, rock 'n' roll, or rock 'n roll) is a Genre (music), genre of popular music that evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s. It Origins of rock and roll, originated from Africa ...

singer-songwriter and drummer *

Leonard Mapfumo Leonard Mapfumo (born January 30, 1983) is an urban grooves/hip-hop artist from Harare, Zimbabwe. Active on the national hip-hop scene since 2000, he has gained recognition as one of the fathers of Zimbabwean urban sounds, with four number one hi ...

(born 1983) – urban grooves and hip hop artist *

Thomas Mapfumo Thomas Tafirenyika Mapfumo (born July 3, 1945) is a musician nicknamed "The Lion of Zimbabwe" and "Mukanya" (the praise name of his clan in the Shona language) for his immense popularity and for the political influence he wields through his mu ...

(born 1945) – chimurenga music artist *

Chiwoniso Maraire Chiwoniso Maraire (5 March 1976 – 24 July 2013) was a Zimbabwean singer, songwriter, and exponent of Zimbabwean mbira music. She was the daughter of Zimbabwean mbira master and teacher Dumisani Maraire (and former officer in the Zimbabwe Mini ...

(1976–2013) – mbira player and singer-songwriter *

Dumisani Maraire Abraham Dumisani Maraire (27 December 1944 – 25 November 1999), known to friends as "Dumi", was a master performer of the ''mbira'', a traditional instrument of the Shona ethnic group of Zimbabwe. He specialized in the form of ''mbira'' calle ...

(1944–1999) – mbira player and singer-songwriter * Mashasha (born 1982) – guitarist and singer-songwriter *

Maskiri Maskiri, born Alishias Musimbe on 6 April 1982 is a Zimbabwean rapper. Early background He was born in Chitungwiza, a residential town about 25 km out of Harare, where he grew up and attended Chemhanza Secondary School until being expelle ...

(born 1980) – hip hop artist and rapper * Dorothy Masuka (born 1935) – South Africa-based jazz singer * Paul Matavire (1961–2005) – blind

musician *

Louis Mhlanga Louis Mhlanga (born 10 November 1956) is a Zimbabwean artist based in South Africa, an award-winning guitarist and producer. Mhlanga taught himself to play the guitar at a young age and is considered one of the best Southern African guitarist ...

(born 1956) – South Africa-based Afrojazz singer-songwriter and guitarist *

Obi Mhondera Obi Simbarashe Mhondera (born May 21, 1980 in Mutare, Zimbabwe) is a songwriter, producer and re-mixer responsible for many major releases worldwide, particularly in the United Kingdom, Europe and Asia. Background He was born and raised in Zimba ...

(born 1980) – England-based pop songwriter *

Eric Moyo Eric Moyo (born 1982, Zimbabwe) is a Zimbabwean singer and the first winner of '' Idols East Africa'' a version of the Idol series. As part of the recording contract, Moyo was assured of US$25,000 in guaranteed album sales from the telecompany Ce ...

(born 1982) – singer *

Tongai Moyo Tongai Moyo (12 March 1968 – 15 October 2011) was a contemporary Zimbabwean musician, often referred to as Dhewa. Born and raised in Kwekwe, Dhewa rose to fame in the late 1990s as a solo artist and with the band Utakataka Express. Highly succe ...

(1968–2011) – sungura singer-songwriter *

August Msarurgwa August Musarurwa (usually identified as August Msarurgwa on record labels) was the Zimbabwean composer of the 1950s hit tune "Skokiaan" (also known as Skokiyana, Skokian). History August Musarurwa was born and raised in the Zvimbamap district of ...

(1920–1968) – composer * Audius Mtawarira (born 1977) – Australia-based urban grooves artist *

Oliver Mtukudzi Oliver "Tuku" Mtukudzi (22 September 1952 – 23 January 2019) was a Zimbabwean musician, businessman, philanthropist, human rights activist and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for Southern Africa Region. Career Mtukudzi grew up in Highfield, a ...

(1952–2019) – Afrojazz singer-songwriter and guitarist * Sam Mtukudzi (1988–2010) – Afrojazz musician * Anna Mudeka – England-based musician * Carol Mujokoro – gospel music artist *

Ephat Mujuru Ephat Mujuru (1950–2001), was a Zimbabwean musician, one of the 20th century's finest players of the mbira, a traditional instrument of the Shona ethnic group of Zimbabwe.Allmusic biography/ref> Biography Although Mujuru played all of Zimbab ...

(1950–2001) – mbira player *

Mono Mukundu Clive 'Mono' Mukundu is a Zimbabwean music producer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist largely known as a guitarist. He is also an author. Mukundu has featured on more than 1000 albums and over 200 singles from 1988 to date. Early life Mukund ...

(born 1970) – music producer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist * Prince Kudakwashe Musarurwa (born 1988) – Afrojazz musician *

Isaac Musekiwa Isaac Musekiwa (c. 1930 – 1991) was a soukous recording artist and saxophonist, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). He was once a member of the soukous band TPOK Jazz, led by François Luambo Makiadi, which dominated the Congolese m ...

– DR Congo-based

soukous Soukous (from French '' secousse'', "shock, jolt, jerk") is a genre of dance music from Congo-Kinshasa and Congo-Brazzaville. It derived from Congolese rumba in the 1960s, becoming known for its fast dance rhythms and intricate guitar improv ...

artist and saxophonist * Busi Ncube (born 1963) – mbira player and singer * Albert Nyathi (born 1962) – poet and singer-songwriter *

, musician * Roki (born 1985) – Madagascar-born urban grooves artist * Kingsley Sambo (1936–1977) – jazz guitarist *

Herbert Schwamborn Herbert Schwamborn is a Zimbabwean born film and music producer, also known by his artist name of Metaphysics. He is most famous for being a member of the multi-platinum selling German band Söhne Mannheims (''Sons of Mannheim''). He is also ...

(born 1973) – Germany-based hip hop and

electronic music Electronic music is a genre of music that employs electronic musical instruments, digital instruments, or circuitry-based music technology in its creation. It includes both music made using electronic and electromechanical means ( electroac ...

artist; member of the band

Söhne Mannheims Söhne Mannheims (German: �zøːnə ˈmanhaɪms ''Sons of Mannheim'') is a German pop and soul band founded 1995 in Mannheim by Xavier Naidoo and others. History The Group was founded in 1995 by Xavier Naidoo, Claus Eisenmann, Robbee Maria ...

Jonah Sithole Jonah Sithole (1952–1997) was a Zimbabwean guitarist, vocalist and composer, known particularly for the mbira-inspired style known as mbira-guitar or chimurenga music. Early life Jonah Sithole was born in the province of Masvingo and grew up in ...

(1952–1997) – chimurenga music artist and guitarist *

Solomon Skuza Solomon Skuza (1954–1995), also known as Jah Solo was a Zimbabwean musician, one of the most popular to come out of Plumtree. In addition to his native Kalanga, he wrote lyrics in Ndebele, Shona and English as well. Other popular Kalanga mus ...

(1956–1995) – pop singer-songwriter * Buffalo Souljah (born 1980) – Zimdancehall and reggae artist * Shingisai Suluma (born 1971) – gospel music artist *

Takura Takura Tendayi is a Zimbabwean singer and songwriter. He is well known for his frequent collaborations with Chase & Status and Sub Focus, as well as many other dubstep and drum and bass artists. His guest appearances have accumulated over 17 ...

(born 1991) –

house music House is a music genre characterized by a repetitive Four on the floor (music), four-on-the-floor beat and a typical tempo of 120 beats per minute. It was created by Disc jockey, DJs and music producers from Chicago metropolitan area, Chicago' ...

and hip hop artist * Tocky Vibes (born 1993) – Singer Lyricist Songwriter * System Tazvida (born 1968) – singer-songwriter * Biggie Tembo Jr. (born 1988) – jit musician * Clem Tholet (1948–2004) – Rhodesian guitarist and folk singer *

Garikayi Tirikoti Garikayi Tirikoti (born 29 April 1961) is a Zimbabwean Mbira Mbira ( ) are a family of musical instruments, traditional to the Shona people of Zimbabwe. They consist of a wooden board (often fitted with a resonator) with attached staggered me ...

(born 1961) – mbira player * Diego Tryno (born 1998) – urban contemporary and hip-hop musician * Viomak –

protest music A protest song is a song that is associated with a movement for social change and hence part of the broader category of ''topical'' songs (or songs connected to current events). It may be folk, classical, or commercial in genre. Among social mov ...

ian and activist * Vusa Mkhaya (born 1974) – singer-songwriter * Tarisai Vushe (born 1987) – Australia-based singer who appeared on '' Australian Idol'' *

Edith WeUtonga Edith Katiji, known professionally as Edith WeUtonga (born 22 April 1979), is a Zimbabwean Afro-jazz and traditional music artist, bass guitarist, songwriter, actress and music teacher. She was born in Kadoma, which lies approximately 16 ...

(born 1979) – Afrojazz singer-songwriter and bass guitarist *

Winky D Winky D (born Wallace Chirumiko,1 February 1983) is a Zimbabwean reggae-dancehall artist, known popularly as "The Big Man" (stylized as "Di Bigman"), and also known as Dancehall Igwe, Gaffa, Ninja President, Proffessor, Extraterrestrial (stylize ...

(born 1983) – dancehall and reggae artist * Jonathan Wutawunashe – gospel artist * Leonard Zhakata (born 1968) – sungura and

adult contemporary music Adult contemporary music (AC) is a form of radio-played popular music, ranging from 1960s vocal and 1970s soft rock music to predominantly ballad-heavy music of the present day, with varying degrees of easy listening, pop, soul, R&B, quiet ...

artist * Charity Zisengwe –

contemporary Christian music Contemporary Christian music, also known as CCM, Christian pop, and occasionally inspirational music is a genre of modern popular music, and an aspect of Christian media, which is lyrically focused on matters related to the Christian faith and s ...

artist * Mudiwa Hood – (born 1985) is a

gospel Gospel originally meant the Christian message ("the gospel"), but in the 2nd century it came to be used also for the books in which the message was set out. In this sense a gospel can be defined as a loose-knit, episodic narrative of the words an ...

artist and actor.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Zimbabwean musicians

Musicians A musician is a person who composes, conducts, or performs music. According to the United States Employment Service, "musician" is a general term used to designate one who follows music as a profession. Musicians include songwriters who wri ...

Zimbabwean Zimbabwe (), officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country located in Southeast Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers, bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the south-west, Zambia to the north, and Moza ...