Taifa Mziki
Kenyatta University
Sylvester Makobi, Director
Wilson Shitandi, Director
together with The International Vocal Ensemble
Jacobs School of Music, Indiana University
Katherine Strand, Director
Loida Pineda, Assistant Instructor
Present
Building Cultural Bridges through Music and Art
March 8, 2014 at 7:00 PM
First Presbyterian Church, Bloomington Indiana
A note about Taifa Mziki:
Taifa Mziki was founded on 20th February 2010 by Collins Murambi and Sylvester Makobi who also serves as the group’s director. The name of the group means, ‘music which brings people together to make one nation.’ The group’s repertoire is mainly African pop music and folksongs arranged for male voices.
Being one of the best all male choral groups in Kenya, in 2012, the group participated in the first televised choir competition in East Africa, ‘The Kwaya,’ and thrilled fans due to their wonderful and creative performances. In 2011 the group was invited to perform during the premier of the International Student Film Festival held in Nairobi, Kenya. The group has also been performing in various corporate, state functions, and concerts.
Taifa Mziki members, most of them being University students, are involved in a choral music mentorship program in high schools in the country. Through this program, the group encourages young people to join or form choirs. The performances and workshops create a platform for the group to preach peace. The members of the group come from different ethnic communities and use the diversity as an opportunity to learn songs from different languages.
Taifa Mziki aims to be an ambassador of African Music.