Archives West Finding Aid

Ephat Mujuru (1950-2001) was a mbira player from Manicaland, Zimbabwe. He was taught to play mbira by his grandfather Muchatera Mujuru. He could play all five types of mbira, but he was most known for his mbira dzavadzimu music. His music group, Chaminuka, was formed in 1972 and played throughout the Zimbabwean war for independence. His music was considered political for reminding people what it was like before colonization and encouraging the fight for change. After the war was over, he recorded his first album and started his career as a touring artist by traveling to the US to teach mbira at the University of Washington.