Online Reporter
Maria Chiguvari
Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
Keyboardist and mbira fusion musician Kenny “Culture K” Taguta has his eyes set on a global breakthrough at the UK Mbira Festival.
The UK Mbira festival is scheduled for September 5 in Birmingham.
Culture K said his upcoming performance at the Mbira Festival presents a valuable opportunity to take his music and culture to a wider international audience. In an interview with Zimpapers, Culture K said this is also an opportunity to showcase the Zimbabwean culture.
“To me, being on stages like the United Kingdom Mbira Festival and other international platforms is a great opportunity to reach a much wider audience. It opens more doors for me to explore my musical journey while giving me the chance to work even harder to polish my craft and market my country, Zimbabwe, on the global stage,” he said. Culture K said the mbira remains at the heart of his music and is more than just an instrument, describing it as a symbol of Zimbabwe’s rich cultural heritage. “The mbira, from which my music is derived, is a masterpiece. It is a spiritually attached ancient instrument that is deeply rooted in the heritage of my people.
“I believe it has the power to inspire people around the world and contribute to promoting Zimbabwe as a tourism destination. I am proud to be associated with it as a son of the soil,” he said. The 55-year-old worked with the late Leonard Dembo when he was only 19-years-old on the album “Chitekete” and a few singles.
He left Dembo’s camp to start his own journey, as the leader of a band called Chirorodziva Crew in 1998.
But due to lack of funding and promotion he didn’t manage to record anything till he left the crew in 2009.
He finally managed to record this album “Kugara Kunzwanana” that had seven songs. Culture K said over the years he has built a reputation through his unique blend of traditional mbira sounds and contemporary influences.
Culture K is expected to travel with his six-piece band, while accomplished mbira player Besil Makombe is also expected to be part of the line-up for the performance.
His set is expected to feature some of his songs that includes Ndotsvaga Wangu, Chakatanga and material from the unplugged Kugara Kunzwanana project, which features celebrated guitarist Louis Mhlanga alongside Besil Makombe on the mbira.
The UK Mbira Festival brings together mbira musicians and enthusiasts from different parts of the world in a celebration of Zimbabwe’s traditional instrument and its growing global influence.
