Tapz

Tapz is a performing artist, songwriter and an activist born in Harare, Zimbabwe. His music interest began at an early age at home where singing and dancing was part of my growing-up. His mother a storyteller, used to sing whilst telling late night stories and I proudly credit her for my singing and musical abilities. A self-taught mbira, marimba, djembe and African drums player, who sings in Shona, English, Tonga and Ndebele. He developed a keen interest in local cross-cultural exchange programs and partnerships performing with established musicians and artists. He left his motherland to South Africa at the age of 2 and came back to start his primary education. His mixed southern African background exposed him to various styles and his main influences have been Afro fusion jazz, Soul, Pop and Traditional music. Over the past years he has been collaborated with various artistes with whom he recorded with and performed internationally.

Together with his band Savannah Afros he managed create a genre of music they call Zimbo groove which is a mixture of Zimbabwe and Southern African influences. This project has been his major musical influence Tapz mesmerized with a voice that is described as smooth and Afro centric and his style is compared to Femi Kuti, Ringo and Eric Wainaina with social issues resonating in his music. 2011 saw Tapz being recruited in an international cultural exchange program called UMOJA Cultural Flying Carpet which saw him linking up with his mentor Eric Wainaina from Kenya. In 2012 his band won a ticket to represent Zimbabwe at Music Crossroads InterRegional finales in Mozambique where they came out 2nd to Malawi which was greeted with enthusiasm His music has been received with great enthusiasm and got heavy rotation on local radio well into 2012 and 2013. Reviews said his stage presence is similar to Femi Kuti and his band is probably one of the hottest young artistes in Zimbabwe at the moment, exuding talent as a singer and songwriter.

Tapz collaborated on various social projects including the FLAME project creating awareness of HIV and related diseases and the song Njiva meaning dove was recorded in that project to promote the awareness of HIV and child abuse issues. He recently finished his studies pressuring his music studies at College of the Arts in Namibia where he was doing his degree in african Performing Arts and Development. He has organized a successful benefit concert with numerous artistes to raise funds to support children in hospitals in Windhoek Namibia. Tapz addresses social issues in his music and uses the arts to create awareness and enhance social engagement with his audience.

Currently he is a music lecture at College of the Arts, Waldorf Windhoek School and Windhoek International School and also an active artist with his band Savannah Afros.