Edith WeUtonga

BIO

Edith WeUtonga is a bassist, singer and songwriter leading her Utonga band from Zimbabwe.

Playing an authentically Zimbabwean sound laced with Jiti, Chimurenga and Shona folk she experiments with some of her favourite World music flavours such as Rhumba, Reggae Calypso and Jazz. She formed Utonga in 2010 and quickly released her debut album in that year – a ten track effort titled UTONGA. This album catapulted her to being one of Zimbabwe’s most recognized musicians to feature at some of the country top live venues. With the same album, Edith performed at all the country’s major Festivals and headlined a few of them

DISCOGRAPHY
2010 – UTONGA (1st album)
2012 - RUNYARARO (album – Peace album featuring other ZIM Artists)
2013 – KWACHA (2nd album)
2014 – AGODOKA – THE RE-MIX (single)
2014 – NEVER AGAIN (single–featuring Jacob Bain and Publish the Quest)
2014 – SHINE (single–featuring Jacob Bain and Publish The Quest)
2015 - ZIMBABWE AWAKE (A compilation Album by Sheer Records of South Africa) 2015 – NDAPOSHA (single featuring Clare Nyakujara and plug track on the PVO Compilation CD)
SHAMWARI (single featuring Clare Nyakujara)
2016- EMERGENCY (single – a Gender Violence project with other artists)
2017 – MADALITSO (3rd Album)

Edith WeUtonga is an award-winning musician and actress of note from Zimbabwe. With three albums in her discography, Edith has been mentor, advisor, consultant and founding member of various arts organisations and projects that have birthed and nurtured the artists in Zimbabwe. She has presented papers and facilitated workshops around Zimbabwe and across the globe. She currently serves as Vice President of the International Federation of Musicians (FIM), whose headquarters are in France.

Currently based in the United Kingdom, Edith WeUtonga holds a BSc Hons Music Business, Musicology & Technology and MA Music in Development from the SOAS University of London. She has worked with various organisations through her music in development to facilitate community-based projects, campaigns using music, theatre, dance and film as a tool. This has seen her consult for corporate and civic organisations seeking co- creation through the arts. Edith is an advocate for the welfare and rights of artists and has a passion for women in the arts. She recently completed her course for African Women Leadership Program hosted by the Egyptian government.

Edith is a founding member of the Zimbabwe Musicians Union and the current president.

AWARDS & MENTIONS
2010 -Nominee, Most Outstanding Female Musician, National Arts Merits Awards Nominee,
2011 -Most Outstanding Album, National Arts Merits Awards (Utonga),
2012 - Winner, Outstanding Actress Theatre (for one woman show – The Comeback)
2013 - Nominee, Best Album, Zimbabwe Music Awards (Kwacha album)
2013 - Nominee, Best Female Musician, Zimbabwe Music Awards
2013 - Nominee, Best Alternative Sound, Zimbabwe Music Awards
2014 -Nominee, Outstanding Female Musician, National Arts Merit Awards
2018 - Winner, Outstanding Alternative Album, Roil Bulawayo Arts Awards

INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL TOURS
2012 – Blankets and Wine Festival, Kenya
2012 – Tour, Tilapia and private concert, Kampala, Uganda 2013 – Food and Culture Festival, Bengaluru, India
2014 – National Festival, Grahamstown,, South Africa 2015 – Private concert, Kampala, Uganda
2018 – Mela International Music Festival, Oslo, Norway

2018 – Festival Rhumba Parade, Lubumbashi. DRC
2018 – Bagamoyo International Arts and Culture Festival, Bagamoyo, Tanzania 2018 – Red Monkey International Musicians Invitation, Stone Town, Zanzibar 2019 – DRC Independence Concert Kinshasa
2019 – VISA FOR MUSIC Morocco
EDUCATIONAL AND OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2019 – to date - MA Music in Development SOAS University of London
2018 - BSc Hon. Degree in Music, Music Business and Administration (Midlands State University)
2018 – ongoing – Brand Ambassador – Cell Insurance
2018 – to – date – Founder ZAWADI DEVELOPMENT TRUST
2017– to date – President – Zimbabwe Musicians’ Union (ZiMU)
2017 – to – date – Trustee ZIMHEART
2016 – to date – Brand Ambassador – Doctors Without Borders/Medicines Sans Frontiers (MSF –Belgium)