Tariro neGitare

Tariro neGitare (translated as Tariro and the guitar) is a Harare-based guitarist, singer and songwriter. Her music has a strong Afro-soul feel and influenced by from artists such as Oliver Mtukudzi, Sara Tavares and Tracy Chapman, amongst others. Born and bred in Zimbabwe, Tariro started playing the guitar at the age of 13 at St. John’s High School, where she was taught by a German Sr. Elizabeth Wedeking. She played regularly at church as well as at school.

She was invited her to a Sistaz Open Mic event held at the Book Café, where she linked up with Edith weUtonga (then called Edith and So What?!) and became the guitarist for the band. She continued to gain experience and played for other artists including Diana Samkange. Tariro has shared the stage with Zimbabwean artists such as Oliver Mtukudzi, Stella Chiweshe, Jah Prayzah and Victor Kunonga, and has even warmed up the stage for South African acapella group Ladysmith Black Mambazo at the Spring Strings Festival. She has also collaborated with German bands Favo and Jamaram, touring Germany in 2013 with the latter. Her self-titled debut album is a celebration of every experience that she has gone through to date, and how each experience has made her the young, vibrant woman she is today.

Tariro is passionate about the arts and has created a platform for other solo artists called the Wildfire Acoustic Night, a music and poetry event that has been running for over two years through a partnership between her company, Wildfire Events, and the Zimbabwe German Society. This event has groomed and exposed different artists and continues to be Harare’s premiere entertainment event. Running parallel to the Acoustic Night are the Business of Art workshops that promote artists to monetize their passion by operating their art like a business. Currently pursuing a Masters degree in Development, she also runs the Magitare Trust (arts and culture development) and Chihera (stockists of African-inspired items).