Online Reporter
Mbulelo Mpofu Sunday Life Reporter
UNITED Kingdom-based Zimbabwean musician Edith WeUtonga is putting the country’s flag on the crest of international folk music with performances at two major British festivals and a workshop showcasing Zimbabwe’s traditional music.
The award-winning bassist, vocalist and songwriter performed at Broadstairs Folk Week in the second week of August and is set to make her debut at the Shrewsbury Folk Festival from August 28 to 31 at the West Mid Showground.
During Broadstairs Folk Week, WeUtonga also facilitated the “Rhythms of Zimbabwe with Edith WeUtonga Band Workshop,” introducing audiences to Zimbabwean musical traditions through polyphonic singing, interlocking rhythms, call-and-response patterns and traditional songs.
The engagements come after the success of her critically acclaimed album Varipasi, which was nominated for Folk Album of the Year at the inaugural Folk Music Awards in 2025.
Speaking to Sunday Life, WeUtonga said preparations for her busy festival schedule have been intense but rewarding.
“It’s all hands on deck. I am glad and honoured to be part of the 28 artistes set to perform at the Broadstairs Folk Week. This was my second performance there and this year was special because I was also asked to present at a workshop on the Zimbabwean polyphonic rhythms,” she said.
She said the workshop provided an opportunity to share Zimbabwe’s musical heritage with an international audience.
“Broadstairs has such a strong reputation for honouring roots music and cultural expression. I was so excited to bring Zimbabwean tradition into that mix — the polyrhythms, the vocal textures, the ancestral resonance,” she said.
At Broadstairs, WeUtonga was supported by British-Indian singer-songwriter Ajay Srivastav, whose music blends Delta Blues and Indian folk traditions.
Although the collaboration was arranged by festival organisers, WeUtonga said she felt a strong artistic connection with Srivastav.
“Being supported by Ajay Srivastav feels incredibly energising. Ajay is a musician whose work carries deep spirit and intention that aligns beautifully with what I try to bring to the stage,” she said.
WeUtonga, who formed Utonga in the early 2010s, has established herself as one of Zimbabwe’s leading contemporary folk musicians.
Her debut 10-track album, Utonga, released at the same time, helped launch her into the local music spotlight.
Her sound blends Zimbabwean traditions, including Jiti, Chimurenga and Shona folk, with international influences such as rhumba, reggae, calypso and jazz.
She has performed at major Zimbabwean festivals, including Intwasa Festival koBulawayo, Women in Jazz, Harvest Festival and the Harare International Festival of the Arts (Hifa).
At Hifa, she shared the stage with the late Oliver Mtukudzi and Senegalese musician Ismael Lo, among other international acts.
Her work has earned her several nominations for Best Female Musician at the National Arts Merit Awards and Zimbabwe Music Awards.
In 2018, she won Best Alternative Act at the Bulawayo Arts Awards.
Her international touring career has taken her to India, Norway, South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zanzibar and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Beyond music, WeUtonga has been active in advocating for musicians’ rights and professional development.
She became the first young African woman to serve as Vice-President of the International Federation of Musicians and later became the first female president of the Zimbabwe Musicians Union.
She also holds a degree in Music Business, Musicology and Technology from Midlands State University and pursued a Master’s degree in Music in Development in the United Kingdom through the Canon Collins Trust scholarship.
Through her performances and workshops, WeUtonga continues to use music as a vehicle for cultural preservation and international exchange.
With her Broadstairs appearance completed and Shrewsbury ahead, the musician remains focused on taking Zimbabwe’s cultural heartbeat to audiences beyond the country’s borders.
