Edith WeUtonga

Edith Katiji,[1] known professionally as Edith WeUtonga, (born 22 April 1979) is a Zimbabwean Afro-jazz and Zimbabwe traditional musician who plays bass guitar[2] while leading vocals, songwriter, actor and music teacher. She was born in Kadoma, which lies approximately 166 kilometres (103 mi), by road, southwest of Harare. Being of Malawi origin and growing up in Bulawayo she sings in 4 different languages mainly Shona, Chichewa, Ndebele and English. Her band is called Utonga [3] which means dawn. She is one of only a few bass guitar players[1] in Zimbabwe who is also the lead vocalist for a band. Katiji also plays acoustic guitar, mbira and drums.

Edith WeUtonga
Here at HIFA 2011 at the Global Stage
Background information
Birth nameEdith Katiji
Also known asMhamha Bass
Born(1979-04-22)22 April 1979
Kadoma, Zimbabwe
OriginHarare, Zimbabwe
GenresAfro jazz & Zimbabwean Traditional
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter
InstrumentsBass guitar, acoustic guitar, mbira and drums
Years active2000–Present
LabelsFamily Affair, Sheer
Associated actsSo What

Career

After completing her secondary education, she pursued music with the Army School of Music[4] at the Brady Barracks, in Zimbabwe's second city of Bulawayo, where she started off as a vocalist with the Army Band and soon moved on to the city's famed Amakhosi Township Square Cultural Centre. While there she joined a 6-month musical instruments crash course for women musicians.

This gave birth to the all-female band from Amakhosi called Amakhosikazi [‘Queens’!][5] where she started off as composer and lead vocalist for the band and later discovered her passion for the bass guitar. Amakhosikazi disbanded in mid-2006.

Katiji, the bassist formed a new band from the remnants of Amakhosikazi, called ‘So What?!’[6] The group relocated to Harare and joined the live music circuit at many of the popular city-centre venues including the famous Book Café and Mannenberg, The Kraal, Jazz 105 and Sports Diner. In 2008 So What?! went through some changes after a few key members left for greener pastures as the economic situation[7] in the country worsened.  The new, rather depleted version of So What?! continued to meet their music commitments – until her near-fatal car accident.

In 2017, she was elected to be the chairperson[8] of the Zimbabwe Musicians Union (ZIMU). Katiji is married to Zimbabwean filmmaker Elton Mjanana and they have two children together. In 2019 Edith graduated from Midlands State University (MSU) with an Honours Degree in Music Business, Musicology and Technology[9]

Life-threatening accident

Katiji had near-fatal car accident in July 2008 where she sustained serious head and facial injuries and was in a coma for almost two weeks. The accident left her physically scarred on her face and she lost a friend who was in the passenger's seat.[3]

Utonga - A New Dawn

During her recovery, she had discovered a new sound within herself. She felt that her scrape with death, followed shortly afterward by the birth of her second son, presented her with a new beginning in life, calling the new sound ‘Utonga’, meaning ‘dawn’ and re-branded herself and her band as Edith weUtonga ‘Edith of Dawn’.[3]

Acting

Edith is also an actor. While at Amakhosi she featured in productions like Athol Fugard's Hello & Goodbye, the Greek classic Lyssistrata, Raisedon Baya's Tomorrow's People. Away from Amakhosi she scored leading roles in Alone But Together by Wonder Guchu and also Silent Words by Tawanda Kanegoni which made its debut at Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA). It was Cont Mhlanga, founder of Amakhosi who introduced her to the small screen by giving her a leading role as Mai Shupi in the TV drama, Sinjalo.[10] She won an award for her performance. Edith also toured locally and regionally with theatre production by ArtsLab called Standing in Pairs which performed at the Grahamstown Festival.

Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Result
2018 Roil Bulawayo Arts Awards (RoilBAAs)[11] Outstanding Alternative Music Won
2018 Women Achievers Awards Women in the Arts Won
2014 National Arts Merit Awards (NAMA)[12] Outstanding Female Musician Nominated
2014 Zimbabwe Music Awards (ZIMA)[13] Best Female Musician

Best Alternative Act

 Nominated
2012 National Arts Merit Awards (NAMA)[14] Outstanding Actress Won

Discography

Albums
  • “Utonga” (Family Affair Productions), 2010
  • “Kwacha” (Family Affair Productions), 2013
  • “Madalitso" (Family Affair Productions), 2018

Singles
  • "Ngizohamba" (2003)

Collaborations
  • "Agodoka The Remix feat Outspoken",[15] 2014
  • "Ndaposha" featurinng Claire Nyakujara (POVOAfrika & Family Affair Productions), 2014
  • Publish The Quest: "Never Again, 2014
  • Publish The Quest: “Shine”, 2014

Compilations
  • "Zimbabwe Awake Vol.1 [Africa Awake CD series]"[16] 2014
  • "SpeakSing+ Vol 01"[17] 2014
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References
  1. Samukange, Tinotenda (12 May 2015). "Edith WeUtonga speaks on her life". News Day. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  2. Mananavire, Bridget (29 July 2018). "Edith WeUtonga gains international acclaim". Daily News. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  3. "A new dawn for Edith". The Herald. 10 May 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  4. Musasizi, Simon (9 September 2012). "Zimbabwe shows off latest world music export". The Observer. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
  5. "Hifa heralds new dawn for Edith". The Herald. 28 March 2012. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  6. "Meet the Rising Zimbabwean Legend…Edith WeUtonga". Zim Eye. 31 March 2015. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
  7. McGreal, Chris (9 October 2008). "Zimbabwe's inflation rate surges to 231,000,000%". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  8. Chimbakwe, Takudzwa (11 February 2018). "Is Zimura Giving Artistes A Raw Deal". The Sunday mail. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
  9. McGreal, Sibanda (23 July 2019). "Edith WeUtonga urges musicians to go to school". Nehanda Radio. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  10. Royce, Mapaike (5 June 2020). "There are many great musicians and creatives – and then there is Edith WeUtonga". ZIMBABWE DIGITAL NEWS. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  11. Ndlovu, Bongani (31 May 2018). "Edith WeUtonga gets 1st award in 18 years". Chronicle. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
  12. Chaya, Vasco (24 February 2014). "WeUtonga tears into NACZ over NAMA". Daily News. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
  13. Mbewe, Maston (30 October 2014). "ZIMA Awards Winners List". Creative Loop. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  14. "New day for WeUtonga". The Zimbabwean. 28 August 2012. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
  15. Phiri, Brenda (9 June 2015). "Edith WeUtonga goes wild". The Herald. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  16. Blumenfeld, Nicky (15 February 2014). "Zimbabwe Awake Vol.1 [Africa Awake CD series]". Sheer Publishing Africa. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  17. POVOAfrika. "Speak Sing Vol.1". Soundcloud. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
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