Tanyaradzwa Tawengwa Album Launch

Tanyaradzwa who?  Currently studying Music, Theater, French, Music Performance and African Studies at Princeton University, an Ivy League university located in New Jersey, USA, Tanyaradzwa shines as an intellect, a leader and a performer.  She is founder and president of Umqombothi, Princeton’s African a cappella ensemble.  This year alone she managed to bag two awards Princeton University, NJ – Winner of Handel Competition (2012) and Princeton University, NJ – Recipient of Adam’s Award, a cash award for ethnomusicology research (2012).  She has performed for Charlize Theron, Rosario Dawson, Jane Fonda and Gabourey Sidibe. 

 Tanyaradzwa with Clive Mono Mukundu performing at the launch

Tanyaradzwa does much of the instrumentation for her music.  She is an amazing piano/keyboard player and also plays mbira and guitar.

She launched her debut self-entitled album, Tanyaradzwa on Monday at the Book Cafe.   Also celebrating her 21^st birthday Tanyaradzwa was supported by friends and family who filled the Book Café to a capacity crowd.

Her six-track album features among other tracks Time & Time, Jesu Anondidisisa and a rendition of the hymn “Ndinoshamiswa Kwazvo.”

Asked what kind of music she plays Tanyaradzwa says “My music is an Afro-soul fusion blended with influences from Vaughan Williams and John Tavener and is influenced by performers such as Whitney Houston, Alicia Keys, Asa, Mary J. Blige, Miriam Makeba, Fela Kuti, Chiwoniso and Oliver Mtukudzi.”  Tanyaradzwa describes her songs as pages of her diary, “each song is a part of me and tracks my growth as a woman.”

When did this all begin? “I began singing at the age of three with my church solo debut of Whitney Houston’s “Who Would Imagine a King.”   From then onwards her musical talents were consistently nurtured she says. She began studying classical piano at the age of 10 under the tutelage of Sr. Loyola of the Dominican Convent Harare.  At 13, Tanyaradzwa took up cello and was part of the Harare Youth Orchestra conducted by Roz Whaley.  At 15 she began vocal training and opera study with Margot Dennis. 

 Tanyaradzwa with band members, Frank Mavhimira, Freedom Manatsa after the launch

Tanyaradzwa is joined on stage by her mom

Speaking to Tanyaradzwa’s ecstatic mother who has always been supportive she said, “Being an artist is not an easy road and I think young artists need support from family and friends to help the shape their dream.”  Also speaking at the launch was Prudence Katomeni-Mbofana who gave the background to Tanyaradzwa’s music al journey as well as the Producer of the album, Clive Mono Mukundu.  Mono lamented the fact that there are quite a number of promising young musicians who are not being given a chance in terms of airplay but I doubt if they will be able to resist this determined and accomplished Tanyaradzwa Tawengwa.

  

By Batsirai E Chigama

for FLAME