Zivanai Masango
Zivanai Masango was born in Harare in 1979, when Zimbabwe was perched at the brink of its hard-won independence. His father, brothers, and cousins all played brass band music in the Police Band, and some of them were also involved in traditional Shona mbira music as well as with dance band pop. As such, Zivanai's home life was a veritable school of music. His first instrument was the drums, but he quickly moved on to accordion, and then marimba. He arranged songs for the school marimba band, all the while studying music theory with a neighbor.
By the time he reached secondary school, Zivanai was something of a prodigy. He now dove into brass band music, working his way from trombone to trumpet, and becoming the leader of the school band. When he moved on to Prince Edward School, he was playing keyboards for school assemblies, and teaching kids to play various instruments. Only then, in 1998, did he first pick up a guitar, and he took to it right away. Zivanai was recruited by a traveling evangelical pastor to arrange and play guitar in his band, Egea Gospel Train. There he worked alongside Clive Mukundu, an excellent, older guitarist who currently works in Oliver Mtukudzi's band.
Zivanai took an increasing interest in studio production, even as he struggled to maintain his commitments at Prince Edward and in the pastor's road show. Then, in 2000, he heard that Zimbabwe's legendary bandleader Thomas Mapfumo was looking for a trumpet player. After a single audition, Zivanai found himself in the studio and on stage with Mapfumo and the Blacks Unlimited, and before long, on his way to tour the United States with them. On the road, Zivanai worked at learning the band's repertoire on guitar, and when veteran guitarist Joshua Dube became ill, the young trumpeter was able to fill in.
Zivanai returned to Zimbabwe after the tour. He set up a small recording studio in Harare, and produced some recordings, including his own first cassette, and two successful releases for up-and-coming gospel singers. In 2001, Zivanai returned to the United States on his own, determined to hone his studio skills. Working with American world music maverick Chris Berry, and later with Berry's group Panjea, and teaching at such venues as Zimfest, an annual gathering of the American Shona music community, Zivanai established himself in the U.S.
In 2003, he moved to New York City, and soon enrolled in Mercy College to study music engineering. It was there he recorded the remarkable album, Pachedu, composing, arranging, and performing nearly all the music himself. The songs span Mapfumo-like roots pop, tuneful balladry worthy of Oliver Mtukudzi, and sweet, contemporary gospel music.
A soulful composer, and a remarkably versatile player, graced with a warm, gentle voice, Zivanai has the makings of truly great musician. Pachedu is the work of a young man wise beyond his years, and a force to be reckoned with in the future of African pop music. (Banning Eyre) —Courtesy Calabash Music