TAKUDZWA HILLARY CHIWANZA
Zimbabwean songwriter and Afro Jazz singer Mwendamberi, born Godfrey Chirau, has been confirmed for the 2025 Music in Africa Conference for Collaborations, Exchange and Showcases (ACCES) edition to be held in Tshwane, South Africa, from 30 October to 1 November.
ACCES is one of the biggest pan-African music trade events in Africa, featuring artists and industry executives from more than 45 countries. It is the apposite platform for music industry players to link and exchange ideas, discover new talent, and create business relations. It is held in a different African city each year.
Mwendamberi has risen to become one of the forces to reckon with in Afro Jazz circles, and the honour to partipate at this year's ACCES edition definitely comes as one of the crowning points of his career. This will be a golden opportunity to share his knowledge of the music industry with other players from different African countries, serving as a bridge to forge vital synergies.
For an artist with a vision to inspire global audiences with empowering music that transcends borders, cultures, and generations, the chance to be at ACCES 2025 is befitting. For Mwendamberi, music is about sharing his powerful story of resilience and purpose; through delivering music that uplifts, educates, and entertains. The crux of his career lies in building bridges through sound – a sound that is deeply rooted in empathy and courage.
This all fits snugly into his story of hardship when he started. His name is inspired by the totem he was born under, 'Mwendamberi', which means "the one who keeps going". Although he is now gracing prestigious stages, the provenance of his story is found through immense difficulties: he was born into a broken family and community, and at one point, things got so bad he had to live on the streets.
This however laid the solid foundation for having empathy for those struggling, and emboldened his resolve to utilise music as a powerful tool for healing, unity, and positive change in society. That's what his music stands for today. Music is his tool to combat apathy, blending traditional rhythms with modern influences to leave the world better than he found it.
Mwendamberi released his album in 2012, titled Key Yangu. He has since toured Europe and China. In 2023, he performed in the Netherlands at the Afrika Dag Festival, performing in front of an audience of over 112,000 people. He has also performed at the Stanbic Jacaranda Music Festival. And now, he will be featuring at ACCES 2025 in South Africa.
Other acts that have been confirmed for ACCES 2025 include Thakzin (South Africa), Focalistic (South Africa), Naledi Aphiwe (South Africa), Shandesh (South Africa), Boukuru (Rwanda), Jabulile Majola (South Africa), Frida Amani (Tanzania), Tobi Peter (Nigeria), Claudio, Rabe (Madagascar), The Charles Géne Suite (South Africa), Njoki Karu (Kenya), Kekelingo (South Africa), FimFim (Ghana), Mpho Sebina (Botswana), Oumy (Senegal) and Bokani Dyer (South Africa). More acts are going to be announced in due course.
ACCES 2025 is organised by the Music In Africa Foundation, a non-profit pan-African organisation, in partnership with the City of Tshwane, the South African National Conventions Bureau, and the SAMPRA Development Fund.
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