Nobuntu — All-Female A Capella Ensemble from Zimbabwe

The Broad Stage presents Nobuntu a five-part acapella ensemble made up of young women from Bulawayo, Zimbabwe on Saturday, November 10 at 7:30pm. Nobuntu has drawn international acclaim for its 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 in the last few seasons, the quintet 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 two recordings: Thina in 2013 and Ekhaya in 2016. The group has made dozens of television and radio appearances throughout Africa and Europe promoting these recordings and the culture of their homeland.
Tickets, starting at $40, are on sale at www.thebroadstage.org or by calling 310-434-3200.
Spotlight Talk: At 6:45pm, join Santa Monica College professor and ethnomusicologist, Ric Alviso for a pre-show conversation on Nobuntu’s performance.