MASHASHA is a composer, bass player, guitarist and singer from Zimbabwe. Best known as Harare’s most in-demand session bassist, he was first “discovered” as a teenager by his neighbour Oliver Mutukudzi, the towering figure of Zimbabwean popular music, and he played his first professional gig, supporting Oliver, at the age of 19. In the five years since then, Mashasha has played with some of Zimbabwe’s leading artists including Chiwoniso Maraire, Busi Ncube, Andy Brown & the Storm and the Zimbabwean rock band Bush Guru. In 2005-6 Mashasha was the bass player in the Zimbabwean all-star collaboration project “Hupenyu Kumusha”. He is also the bass player co-leader/composer in the cutting-edge Zimbabwean jazz group Too Open, which has steadily been building a cult following. Currently in the UK, Mashasha has been performing as a solo artist (bass and vocals) as well as working on new collaborations and a film project.
The following videos show some of Mashasha's work:
Mashasha with Ali Nourbakhsh at the Celebrating Sanctuary Festival, part of World Refugee Week 2008, held at London's South Bank.
Mashasha solo Live at the Cochrane Theatre, London, March 30 2008
Live and uncut performance by Too Open, featuring Mashasha on bass, Brian Nhanhanga on drums and Sam Chagumachinyi.
Look out for more videos at www.youtube.com/sevendaysinafrica
Another video of TOO OPEN in action, performing the song "Chanyakare"
Music video for the song "Urombo" from the album HUPENYU KUMUSHA, a Zimbabwean all-star collaboration, featuring singers Chiwoniso Maraire and Busi Ncube, mbira player Adam Chisvo, guitarist Roger Mbambo, drummer William Hillman and more, with MASHASHA on bass.
Video directed by Eugene Ulman
"Six Nights a Week at the Book Cafe" Part 1 -
Documentary by Eugene Ulman featuring Mashasha
First shown on the Aljazeera show "People & Power" in March 2008
Part 2 of "Six Nights a Week at the Book Cafe."
