Zim’s Edith WeUtonga named International Federation of Musicians vice-president

FIM is an international organisation that protects the rights of musicians. WeUtonga, whose real name is Edith Katiji, is the first black woman to hold the position. She joins the organisation’s other vice-presidents, Beat Santschi (Switzerland), Anders Laursen (Denmark), Ray Hair (US) and Horace Trubridge (UK). WeUtonga’s appointment was made at the recently concluded 22nd FIM congress.

“The International Federation of Musicians is proud to welcome Edith Katiji as one of its five vice-presidents,” FIM general secretary Benoit Machuel told Music In Africa. “Ms. Katiji brings her knowledge of the Zimbabwean and African music sectors as well as her experience as a respected music performer. We are looking forward to working with her within the FIM presidium and executive committee, in the interest of professional musicians in Africa and beyond.”

WeUtonga, who is the Zimbabwe Musicians Union’s (ZIMU’s) founding president, said: “It is my hope that through this appointment, Africa will shine, and that the governments of our African nations will put more effort into policies that promote the arts where music will benefit. I hope to initiate and follow up on what my predecessors initiated regarding women in leadership, equity and fair trade. I also hope to see more exchange between established unions to enable capacity building. As an academic, it’s also my hope to see FIM create a repository of information on global music trends, policies and histories.”

WeUtonga broke onto the music scene in 2000 and has released a number of albums incuding Utonga, Kwacha and Madalisto. She has won accolades at the National Arts Merit Awards, Bulawayo Arts Awards and Women Achievers Awards. Now based in the UK, WeUtonga holds a master of arts degree in music in development from SOAS University of London and a bachelor of science in music business, musicology and technology from Midlands State University in Zimbabwe.