Dudu Manhenga

Born on 6 January 1981, Dudu Manhenga is a dynamic young Zimbabwean singer/songwriter who fronts the group Color Blu. She studied at St Columba’s High School in Makokoba. The school’s location close to the Amakhosi Theatre facilitated her involvement in the arts. Dudu then joined her first band, Gospel Arc, and later moved to the jazz outfit, Siyeza, headed by former southern freeway and Wells Fargo guitarist Handsome Mabhiza, who encouraged her to follow in the footsteps of Dorothy Masuka, Letta Mbulu, Thembi Mtshali, Miriam Makeba and other African jazz greats.

Performing professionally since the age of 16 in Bulawayo, in 1999 she got an opportunity to take part in an arts workshop that introduced her to the big city of Harare, where Dudu established herself with long stints as backing vocalist for top artists such as Oliver Mtukudzi & The Black Spirits, Steve Dyer, Louis Mhlanga, Tanga Wekwa Sando and Dumi Ngulube, while studying at the Zimbabwe College of Music in Harare. In 2001 she formed the group Color Blu, along with her husband, drummer Blessing Muparutsa. They recorded their debut nine-track Afro-jazz fusion album ‘Out of the Blu’ in 2003, which was warmly received by the music-loving public and contained hits like 'Mvura', 'Bengimthandile' and 'Madlamini'. The album was followed by 'Jula' (2007), 'Towards Alignment' (2009), 'Ngangiwe' (2011) and 'For You' (2013).

Her music has been accurately described as ‘an Afro-jazz adventure’ – a fusion contemporary and traditional genres, including township jazz and homegrown Manica, Mashona and Matabele rhythms and melodies. A dynamic live performer, she has performed widely at clubs, corporate gatherings and festivals in Zimbabwe and South Africa, sharing a stage with numerous top stars from both countries.