Echoes of Africa: Linos Wengara Magaya

Linos Wengara Magaya is the frontman of Zimbaremabwe, a UK-based band that specialises in live Zimbabwean traditional music, as well as Mbira Reggae, an original style fusing Mbira with reggae.

Magaya grew up in a spiritual family in Zimbabwe and learned the Mbira and its cultural ways through participation and playing in many ceremonies and in cultural life. He also found himself on a path as a Svikiro (spiritual healer) and devoted his energy to developing this. Being very musically motivated, he had created a band by his early teens with whom he played and toured many parts of Zimbabwe and opened for the legendary Thomas Mapfumo in 1995.

He later found an opportunity to relocate to the UK and is now based in Brighton. The band have a substantial back catalogue of recorded music, largely in the Chimurenga style, but also acoustic style Mbira. They regularly play live shows across the UK and over the years have supported many big acts such as Oliver Mtukudzi, and the Wailers band. He is highly regarded as a Mbira teacher and has worked in universities such as SOAS, and currently Goldsmiths, where he trains music students to perform as a Chimurenga ensemble.

Linos plays an important role in representing Zimbabwean spiritual culture in the UK and has a busy practice, offering spiritual healing, and cultural advice to Zimbabweans and Africans in general.