music
Forward Kwenda
Master musician Forward Kwenda is known as a musical phenomenon in Zimbabwe, as "the Coltrane of mbira" in international circles. A musical prodigy, he began recording shortly after teaching himself to play mbira in his early teens.
As a young boy, Forward excelled in traditional dance and recitation of ancient poetry. At the age of 8, he began to play ngoma (drums) and hosho (gourd rattles) for his mother's rain-making spirit.
His soulful, virtuoso performances include amazing improvisation considered a "more ancient" style in Zimbabwe, and he is known for performoing solo at cermeonies where two or three musicians are normally required.
Kwenda's 1997, 2000 and 2001 U.S. tours with Erica Azim were enthusiastically received, and their "Svikiro: Meditation of an Mbira Master" CD on the Shanachie label has been hailed as the best mbira CD to date (NPR - All Things Considered).