the four members of Nobuntu sitting on a rock in front of a lake.

Nobuntu

October 20, 2023 | Polsky Theatre

Past Event


Nobuntu, the female a cappella quartet from Zimbabwe, has drawn international acclaim for their inventive performances that range from traditional Zimbabwean songs to Afro Jazz to Gospel.


The ensemble’s concerts are performed with pure voices, augmented by minimalistic percussion, traditional instruments such as the Mbira (thumb piano) and organic, authentic dance movements.

Nobuntu was nominated for Best Musician of the Year at the Zimbabwe International Women Awards in London in 2015 and won for the Best Imbube Group at the Bulawayo Arts Awards in 2017 and 2019.

The quartet has performed at festivals and concert halls in Italy, Austria, Germany, Belgium, the Czech Republic and throughout the African continent. The ensemble was a huge critical success at Trans-Vocal in Frankfurt and Voice Mania in Vienna. Their first tour to Canada, in 2016, included performances in Toronto, Winnipeg, Vancouver and Victoria.

The word “Nobuntu” is an African concept that values humbleness, love, unity and family from a woman’s perspective. The ensemble represents a new generation of young African women singers who celebrate and preserve their culture, beauty, and heritage through art. The ensemble’s mission is the belief that music can be an important vehicle for change, one that transcends racial, tribal, religious, gender and economic boundaries.

Nobuntu has released three recordings – “Thina” in 2013, “Ekhaya” in 2016 and “Obabes beMbube” in 2018. The group has made dozens of television and radio appearances throughout Africa and Europe, promoting these recordings and the culture of their homeland.