After setting hearts alight across the country with their soul-stirring rhythms, Afro-acoustic sensation Gwevedzi Redefined is coming full circle — back to where the magic began.
On August 29, 2025, the group returns to their spiritual home, Theatre in the Park, riding the waves of acclaim from their latest album, Hope.
The nine-track masterpiece, launched just last month, is more than just music — it’s a movement. A call to remember who we are, where we come from, and what we still dare to dream.
From Harare’s high-profile gigs to intimate acoustic sessions, Hope has sparked a cultural reawakening. And now, the band brings it home.
But don’t let the title fool you — Hope isn’t all sunshine and soft strumming. It stands for Hold On Pain Ends — a bold, beat-driven manifesto wrapped in ancestral dance rhythms like shangara, mhande, dinhe, mbakumba, and amabhiza.
It’s spiritual, it’s political, it’s personal — and it’s unmistakably Gwevedzi.
“We’re saying, ‘Aspire to inspire before you expire,’” says Daves Guzha, producer and founder of Creative Native, the Rooftop Promotions music label behind the album. “It’s about recalibrating a broken compass — culturally, morally, even spiritually.”
Recorded live at Theatre in the Park and mixed by Mbakie Muleya of Audio Academy, the album breathes with raw intensity — a sonic journey through pain, perseverance, and poetic redemption.
Must-listen tracks include:
Kamwenje – A fiery takedown of ego, greed, and envy
Rise – A foot-stomping anthem of hope and resilience
Zuva – A delicate reminder that no matter how dark it gets, the sun always returns
Hi – A love song that’s both vulnerable and empowering
And let’s talk sound. Gwevedzi Redefined isn’t just another band — they’re innovators. From haunting vocal harmonies to a percussion setup featuring mortar and pestle, their sound is as unique as their message.
The band compises: Wilfred “Dancing Strongs” Nikisi (29) – Bass with swagger, LeeAnne “Matalamanda” Rukato (23) – Lead vocals & percussion queen, Tinashe Musangutsa (35) – Guitar wizard and rhythm soul and Joshua Msengezi (19) – Drum prodigy lighting up every beat.
Their name, Gwevedzi, means suitor in Shona — a fitting symbol for music that courts the spirit, woos the heart, and brings people together.
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