Online Reporter
Maria Chiguvari-Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
MBIRA musician Kenny “Culture K” Taguta said a string of performances in the UK has given him fresh confidence as he works towards building an international audience.
Culture K and his team recently performed in Leicester, where they also had the opportunity to share the stage with sungura star Alick Macheso, and supporting acts Kurai Makore and Tocky Vibes on August 29.
The Leicester performance, he said, exposed the group to a wider Zimbabwean audience in the UK while also giving them an opportunity to explore new ground.
“The Leicester gig was an opening to a much greater Zimbabwean audience,” said Culture K.
“It also gave us a chance to explore breaking new grounds to a different audience.
“It was a good experience to present our set.”
The mbira musician also performed at the UK premiere of ‘Becoming Madam Boss’, a biographical film chronicling the rise of Zimbabwean comedian and social media personality Tyra Chikocho, popularly known as Madam Boss.
For Culture K, the performances are part of a wider push to take his music beyond Zimbabwe and connect with audiences in the Diaspora.
He said his recent signing with new management, ‘The Royal Creations’, had also helped increase his visibility and create opportunities for him as an emerging mbira musician.
“I am now signed under new management, The Royal Creations, which has put us on the map and made us trend on the market, hence making inroads towards my goals as an emerging Zimbabwean mbira artist globally,” he said.
The musician believes the UK experiences will help him understand how to present his music to different audiences while also giving him the confidence to pursue more international opportunities.
His performance alongside Macheso was another major highlight. Culture K is now looking to build on the momentum from the UK appearances as he continues to position his mbira music to a wider international audience.
