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Wellington 'Bitumba' Maruta & Musique d'Afrique
(Zimbabwe)
Biography
Wellington 'Bitumba' Maruta is an ethnomusicologist with a Bachelor of Music degree attained at
Great Zimbabwe University. He has taught at the college of music and has been a music lecturer at Morgan Zintec College
under the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education. He is currently a principal human resource development officer under the same ministry [3].
In 2013, he formed his own band, Musique D'Afrique, and plays a rumba jazz fusion, strongly rooted in
Congolese rumba, with Zimbabwean influences.
Wellington teamed up with former Lubumbashi Stars band members, and instrumentalists from Real Sounds. On vocals, Wellington Bitumba Maruta is accompanied by Papa Mbala Kaninda, Kapiya and Eric Chido, all from the DRC [3]. Thanks to the international composition of the band, they can address the public in various languages, in Shona, Lingala, Swahili, Bemba, Zulu and Tswana.
In 2013, Maruta released a first single, « Wenge Uripi? », which was followed by a first album « Rwemandorokwati ». The public response and radio airplay encouraged him to continue and in 2015, an EP was released as follow-up, « Makorokoto ». Early 2016, a third album « Wedenga » was released and already, new recordings are being made.
Wellington teamed up with former Lubumbashi Stars band members, and instrumentalists from Real Sounds. On vocals, Wellington Bitumba Maruta is accompanied by Papa Mbala Kaninda, Kapiya and Eric Chido, all from the DRC [3]. Thanks to the international composition of the band, they can address the public in various languages, in Shona, Lingala, Swahili, Bemba, Zulu and Tswana.
In 2013, Maruta released a first single, « Wenge Uripi? », which was followed by a first album « Rwemandorokwati ». The public response and radio airplay encouraged him to continue and in 2015, an EP was released as follow-up, « Makorokoto ». Early 2016, a third album « Wedenga » was released and already, new recordings are being made.
Wellington 'Bitumba' Maruta
• Musicians on 'Rwemandorokwati':
Vocals: Wellington 'Bitumba' Maruta
Back vocals: Malila De Broun, George Musonda, John Marabu
Solo guitar: George Musonda
Rhythm guitar: John Mupela 'Marabu'
Drums: Patrick Nyau
Bass guitar: Jacques Ngazimi
Keyboards: Elijah Mwamba
Mbala Dody Kaninda (vocals, ex-Lubumbashi Stars), Papa Uncle John (vocals, ex-Mangalepa), and Eric Chido joined later
Born: 20 November 1968, in Gweru, Midlands Province
Style: Congolese rumba / soukous / gospel
Discography
Vocals: Wellington 'Bitumba' Maruta
Back vocals: Malila De Broun, George Musonda, John Marabu
Solo guitar: George Musonda
Rhythm guitar: John Mupela 'Marabu'
Drums: Patrick Nyau
Bass guitar: Jacques Ngazimi
Keyboards: Elijah Mwamba
Mbala Dody Kaninda (vocals, ex-Lubumbashi Stars), Papa Uncle John (vocals, ex-Mangalepa), and Eric Chido joined later
Born: 20 November 1968, in Gweru, Midlands Province
Style: Congolese rumba / soukous / gospel
Discography
| Title | Year | Label | Remarks |
| The Very Best of Bitumba "Wedenga" | 2016 | Bitumba Records WM 004 | |
| Makomborero | 2015 | Bitumba Records | |
| Rwemandorokwati | 2014 | Bitumba Records |
Sources
[1] facebook.com/Wellington-BitumbaMaruta-and-Musique-De-LAfrique
[2] Mdundo.com
[3] www.JiveZimbabwe.com
[1] facebook.com/Wellington-BitumbaMaruta-and-Musique-De-LAfrique
[2] Mdundo.com
[3] www.JiveZimbabwe.com
Page added September 2016