Picture by Eva Elings.

ManLuckerz Makandire L. C. Chikutu- founder of The Zim-Traditional Unity (MAZIMTU), and was born at Mupandawana, Gutu Mission Hospital, in Masvingo province of Zimbabwe. He is a talented drummer, singer, dancer, story teller and actor, with a promising and bright future, and aiming high.

ManLuckerz have been interested in traditional story tellings, dance, music and theatre since childhood but started to perform in 1985 when he was in grade 3. Special thanks to his mother (Agnes Mahachi Chikutu) & father (Madhinga Zvemisha Chikutu) who encouraged and taught him on how to sing The Zim-traditional music.

He became an actor by profession in 1996 when he joined Chiysap theatre arts. He is one of the founder members of this group.

In 1996, ManLuckerz attended a theatre education at the University of Zimbabwe (UZ), where he got trained on how to act and proper theatre management. After which he produced a play entitled, WHAT IF IT WERE YOU, (Dai uriwe, in Shona).

It was on gender issues and domestic violence. He have also appeared in various plays, which he produced together with the Chiysap theatre arts group.

In September 1996, he worked with Ziki Moyo from Idwala theatre who also added a bit of skills on traditional dances, music, and drumming.

In 2012, ManLuckerz was determined to pursue a Music Business programme at SAE Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden.

He became a musician by profession in 1998 when he joined Nhare mbira ensemble. He is also one of the founder members of the group.

In 1999, he attended some workshops for cultural programme exchange in Sweden. He obtained a certificate from Studieframjändet. He have appeared on radio, local press and in a number of TV 4 documentaries in Sweden.

He worked with many artists in Chitungwiza, Harare, Matebeleland, Manicaland, Midlands, Masvingo province, Mashonaland province, etc.

He have performed at various occasions and festivals in Zimbabwe.

He have attended many meetings pertaining to theatre workshops, development and grooming of artists in Zimbabwe and other countries including USA, Sweden Finland, etc.

Outside Domkyrkan Uppsala.

Picture by Suzanne Ohlsson.

ManLuckerz and The Zim-Traditional Unity was formed 2001 in order to address Zimbabwe tradition, socio-economical issues and gender issues through singing and also to break the culture of silence.

The Uppsala-based African band, a multi-talented musicians combining traditional expressions from their experiences in Southern Africa.

The group Performs with Zimbabwean traditional music, welcome. Don’t miss it!

ManLuckerz routinely occurs with vigorous traditional dance and music from Zimbabwe. ManLuckerz want strong relations between Zimbabwe and Sweden through the culture industry and build a bridge between those two countries. ManLuckerz want to teach African music, dance, marimba, mbira, maracas and drums.

ManLuckerz also want to educate, and train others about Zimbabwean culture and play a role in the preservation of our culture. These amongst other reasons have kept him in the field of art and culture.

-ManLuckerz is a discliplined, dedicated, determined (3ds) to go forward and never backwards.

By doing so young people will also have a chance to learn and practice our culture or some of its elements like dance and music.

-His ambitions are to make people in every corner of the world be aware their traditions, so that they remember them.

Mhande dance with Zimba Marimba group, in Lund.

Picture by Zimba Marimba.

Picture by Paulina Hermansson

Since its inception, has ManLuckerz and The Zim-Traditional Unity worked with a variety of organizations. The group, ManLuckerz is mixed with Zimbabweans, Ugandan, Mozambique, Swedes, and other nationalities.

ManLuckerz and The Zim-Traditional Unity performed at various places in Sweden, Africa and other countries in Europe. Next year, the group planned to go on an exchange programme trip to Zimbabwe 2014th.

INTERESTED IN OUR WORK?

-Live Zim-Traditional music performances - functions, seminars, parties, launchings, state functions, and official openings.

-Modern dance music.

-Theatre programme

-Information on current development issues.

-We also offer workshops in Drums & African dance

-Choir music

-ManLuckerz will never hide his true identity under a false sheep skin.

-He is an African, a Zimbabwean to be specific.

-He feel proud of his culture and everyone's culture is important in its own right.

Picture by Lewis & Clark College.

ManLuckerz grew up in an old-fashioned, traditional life enviroment because of his Grandfather VaMakandire Zvemisha. He was a TRADITIONAL HEALER, a story teller and a musician as well.

Each time we sat under a tree next to the cluster of huts in the compound and he played his mbira tunes. He told stories empasizing the values of our traditional way of living. He told us that we should never be brainwashed with evil winds, or never feel proud of western attire.

He also taught ManLuckerz the importance of putting on the traditional attire that he bought for him because he didn't want him to disgrace our people and our ancestors; he also said that no matter how educated a person is, our tradition will not change.

One day, he said "Take this snuff (bute), ManLuckerz gave his hand, Makandire told him that he was now the son of the soil, don't tease your culture Tambira........Puta yese and this will protect you from evil spells". He took the snuff and sneezed and laughed. Later, he said that culture will never be lost as long as there are people to protect it.

Experiences:

Worked/performed in Zimbabwe with organizations such as Musasa Project, WAG, WILDAF, WASN which are women's grassroots organizations working to improve gender equality and consciousness-raising in Zimbabwe and Padare a men's forum organization which works on gender issues throughout Zimbabwe, Chiysap theatre arts, Dandemutande, Beula Dyoko, Zatycp, Alternative Savahna Arts Theatre, HIFA, Roof Top Promotions, National arts council of Zimbabwe i.e. primary, secondary and high schools, University of Zimbabwe, Schools, ZBC, Africomms and municipalities, etc.

Worked/performed in Sweden at Studie Framjändet, ProTools, Afrocuban Company, Fyrisgården, Uppsala stift i.e. Churches in Sweden, Fyris Festvalen, Gottsunda biblioteket, Bromma ungdomar kultur i Stockholm, Baba Thula Organization, Zimba Marimba Ensembles, Swedish radio P2, Swedish TV 4, The Darkness film, Nordic Africa Institute University, SIDA, primary-secondary and high schools in Sweden, Afrika Grupperna, The Embassy of Zimbabwe, Weddings, Conferences, Sörmland Teatern, Hijazz, Sensus, SAE Institute of Technology, Libraries in Sweden, Uppsala Kommun, Parksnäckan Uppsala, Kulturoasen Uppsala, Calor Göteborg, Katalin Uppsala, Hågaby Kultur Centrum, Södra teatern, Berns Stockholm, Diesel Verkstaden, Hans Soft, ZIMFEBI, ZIMOSWE, Celso Paco, Makandire-Ariane Together As One (TAO) Inter-Cultural Promotion, Just Africa, Siquir Music, Zimba Marimba Sweden, etc.

Worked/performed in Finland churches, Jakaranda music band, etc

Worked/performed in the USA at Lewis and Clark College, PSU university, primary and high schools, The Nation's Finest, Oregon Health Science University, Self Enhancement Organization, Walker and Warren Organization, Zimbabwe Arts Projects- ZAP, Authentic Shona Sculpture Contemporary Art, Our House of Portaland Organization, etc

Makandire Muzani ZIMFEBI Music is registered culture organization under the cultural developments in the world. It is there for bring

cultures together from different corners of the world, e.x. Sweden, Zimbabwe. MM ZIMFEBI Music is affiliated with many different organizations such as ZIMFEBI, Makandire-Ariane Together As One (TAO) Inter-Cultural Promotion, ZiMoSwe, Bistro-Hijazz, Sensus, Kulturfyren, etc.

International Music Composer, Inter-Music Producer, Inter-Marketing Consultant, Inter-Artistic Director, Inter-Music Promoter, Inter-Artistic Advisor. Bankgironr: 418-9403. Copyright © All Rights Reserved.