This month’s curator mixtape is brought to us by one of Sofar’s newest curators, Khumbulani Muleya in Harare, Zimbabwe. As someone who’s lived in the capital for nearly three decades, Khumbulani knows the city, and is involved through many creative avenues. Learn a little more about Khumbulani below, and hear the curator’s dynamic playlist.
[Hear The Curator Mixtape here]
DO YOU HAVE A CREATIVE OUTLET OUTSIDE SOFAR? IF SO, TELL US ABOUT IT.
I coordinate a literary art initiative called Gourd of Consciousness Poetry. It is a gathering of emerging and established poets from across Zimbabwe, interfacing through online social media platforms to discuss issues around literature that include the philosophical, legal and monetary aspects of poetry. I am currently curating the Gourd of Consciousness National Poetry competition. We launched the competition on the 3rd of October. Poets stand a chance of winning various prizes including books written by local authors.
WHAT DREW YOU TO CURATING SHOWS?
I have always been a music enthusiast. From as far as I can remember, no matter where I looked I always found myself following a life path that featured music as some sort of soundtrack to the life I lived. I met a friend from Uganda at a creatives summit in Harare, who went on to share with me the Sofar experience. I loved it from the onset. I just couldn’t wait to be part of the unique network of global music curators.
Khumbulani Muleya, photo by HStvWHAT’S SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT YOUR CITY ONLY LOCALS MIGHT KNOW?
The city is a cauldron of different cultures. A melting pot. It is always a buzz of activity no matter what time of the day. Locals call it Harari loosely translated to the one who does not sleep, because at night the city comes alive.
PLEASE SHARE ONE TO TWO SENTENCES ABOUT TWO OF YOUR FAVORITE TRACKS YOU CHOSE FOR THE MIXTAPE, AND WHAT MAKES THEM SPECIAL TO YOU.
Definitely one of them will have to be “Ndundule” by Mokoomba from their Rising Tide album. This a roller coaster song that always wowed the audience every time the band played it live.
The other is “Kumatendera” by Mbira DzeNharira. The song was played on an ancient 22 key mbira dzavadzimu. It’s one of those tracks that was a major influence in efforts to promote the genre of Mbira music.
Interview by Sofar Editorial Team
