U-Meleni

Artist Information

Biography

U-MELENI , is a multi-talented Zimbabwean Artist born in America, raised in Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa. She is an Actress, Activist-Educator and Singer/Songwriter/Musician, who she has been performing in Boston, MA and abroad since 1996.

Her mission as an Artist is to inspire, motivate, educate and elevate. Her lyrics and poems address issues from World problems like child soldiers to very personal issues of women’s empowerment. Her Art truly offers something for everybody.
U-Meleni is also a self-taught guitarist, budding photographer and filmmaker. Since picking up the microphone in College in the US, she has graced many stages with her powerful performances, soothing voice and profound lyrics.

“ Prepare to be angered, relaxed, challenged, soothed and renewed all at once…”~Jamarhl Crawford



Most recently U-Meleni recieved one of the Lead Roles playing "koi" a Kenyan woman in an upcoming African drama series called " Ya Ma' Afrika" centering around four african women living in New York and the experiences they face. It was shot in New York in Feb/ March 2007 , written by Thato Mwosa, an accomplished film maker from Botswana.

Last summer , U-Meleni travelled on an "Empowerment Through the Arts Tour "to Johannesburg with a talented friend, poet/rapper Omekongo, as well as other artists to SOUTH AFRICA where they visited seven schools in Soweto. The tour was a collaboration between Omekongo's Free Your Mind Publishing and a non-profit organization called The Heart of Africa.

U-Meleni was a part of a group of Artists conducting workshops on spoken word and creative writing showing how it can be used to empower and create change. U-Meleni then travelled to ZIMBABWE for three weeks ( Aug 13-Sept 2, 2006) to spend time with family and friends. While the she performed at the BOOK CAFE in Harare on Aug 17th, 2006 along with The Guests ( a comedy duo Victor Mavedzenge and Michael Kudakwashe) raising $54 MILLION from proceeds from her CD auction and sales for the DAISY DUBE CHILDREN'S HOME in Mt Selinda which currrently takes care of 60 children ages 6mths to 18.She also performed with a talented Producer Filbert Marova and later recorded some songs at a recording Studio in Greencrosft, Harare. She also started working on her much anticipated Sophomore Album collaborating with her brother Kudzai known as Tek Neek who is a talented young upcoming producer/rapper, and meeting other local Artists. U-Meleni also had time to visit and perform for Africa University students and meet with esteemed faculty in Education and Music.
U-Meleni holds a Masters in Education with a concentration in Drama and Multicultural Learning, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Social Psychology from Lesley University and the University of Massachusetts respectively. She has written and produced her debut CD of poetry & music (in English and Shona) entitled “Soul Psalms, Birth, Death, and Resurrection”. “Talk about atoms in a cyclotron. We became a magnetic field taking in her images…." Kay Bourne, Bay state Banner.

U-Meleni was an honored writer for her poem” Feelings are only temporary” featured in the University of Maine The Binnacle Literary Arts Magazine in the fall of 2005. In March 2006, her song/poem” Love is Not Supposed to Hurt” won the Inaugural Spoken Word Competition on American Idol undergound.com and has been in rotation being among the top 50 Spoken word tracks. Most recently she was inducted as a Performing Member to INDIEGRRL , an international organziation that promotesthe work of and connects female independent artists.

For the past six years, U-Meleni has also been a full-time Health & Wellness teacher in the Boston Public Schools through the Boston Public Health Commission. Her focus is to empower youth and community members to lead healthy lifestyles via poetry, drama and media. Deeply committed to leading a whole life, her Art is a reflection of what she sees and wants to change in the world.

U-Meleni has participated in many fundraising and awareness raising events, most recently a celebration of Substance Abuse Survivors with the Massachusetts Organization of Addiction and Recovery, and an event held to increase the number of AIDS Orphans that can be cared for at Selula Sandla Orphanage in Mbabane, Swaziland with Prince Cedza Dlamini and SoulAfrica.com.

U-Meleni is also a member of the Girls Coalition for Greater Boston. The coalition brings people and resources together, to educate, advocate and network on behalf of girls. She has spoken on behalf of the girls she teaches at the Girls Hearing sponsored by the Massachusetts Status of Women, and uses her art in Violence Prevention and Public Health forums. U-Meleni has performed in conjunction with the African Students Union of Harvard, Tufts, Simmons, Northeastern and other universities.

U-Meleni has acted, written the narration and performed her poetry in the independent film “In My Mother’s House”, directed by Andrew Millington, Independent Film-maker and Assistant Professor at Howard University John H. Johnson School of Communication, shown at the Roxbury Film Festival in Boston, Massachusetts. U-Meleni also served as a consultant for the award-winning feature film, “Don’t Tell Me You Love Me” directed by Thato Mwosa, an independent film-maker from Botswana. Fashion-wise- she served as a model and opening Act for the Haitian Brothers Networking Nationwide (HBNN). Theatre performances include acting in several plays, and working with Our Place Theatre Company performing in The African-American Theatre Festival held annually at the Calderwood Pavilion, Boston Center for the Arts.

U-Meleni was one of a select few artists to perform for 2,000 people for the re-opening performance of the Boston Opera House with the Our Place Theatre Company in September 2004, after thirty years of closed doors. She also performed at the Africana Woman Series for the Boston Pan-African Forum and regularly features at jazz, soul and R & B clubs. She has been featured in Boston-area newspapers and radio, many times. In January 2005, she started her own performance & consulting company MOSI-OA-TUNYA.


Spoken Word & Music/Vocal Performances
• over 300 performances

Colleges:

UMASS ( Boston), Simmons College, Northeastern University, Harvard University, Tufts University, Art Institute of Boston-Lesley University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Emerson College.

Awareness Raising/Social & Public Health:

Boston Girls Hearing - Commission on Status of Women
International Women’s Day - Dorchester Women’s Committee
Women’s History Month -Revive Your Soul.com
Fundraiser for Orphans in Africa ,Baobab Project - MIT Africa Students Center
The African Child Cultural Celebration -Northeastern University African Students Union
Fundraiser for Jane Doe Inc-Gabriel Atchison Productions
Organizing Member of Reconstruction Group of Urban Griots ( Arts meets Activism) in Boston, MA

CONFERENCES/EVENTS:

Black Arts Movement Conference @ Cambridge Center for Adult Education
Panelist/performer on : Creative Collaboration Workshop Other notable Artists included: Askia Torre, Jamarhl Crawford, and VCR.
Who’s Next? Girls Say NO to Violence
Performer/Presenter: Workshop “loving yourself from the inside out: Self Esteem”
Verbalization & Megacipher: featured artist

CLUBS/VENUES:

Wally’s Jazz Café, Jorge Hernandez Cultural Center-Soul Revival, Bob’s Southern Bistro, Milky Way Lounge, Slades Bar and Grille, Mirage Club, Vinalia’s, Asia’s Café, Enormous Room, Marriot Hotel, Freedom House, Museum of African American Art, Boston Opera House, Boston Center for the Arts, Cambridge Center for Adult Education, Dudley Public Library, Lucy Parson’s Bookstore, Jamaica way Bookstore, Matt Murphy’s Pub, Lizard Lounge, Strand Theatre., AMMARP Gallery, Legacy Gallery. Café Xepas, Strand Theatre.

MEDIA

Radio

www.thazonet.com by DJ Mantau
RealBlackTalkRadio.com by Brother RA on the state of Black Art
WMBR 88.1FM ( MIT radio station) by Jeff Robinson
WRBB 104.9FM (Northeastern University radio station) by Laura Soul Brown
WERS88.9FM (Emerson College radio Station) LIVE MUSIC WEEK
HOT 97.7FM DJ Garfdigga promoting NEO-SOUL Festival in Bermuda/wrote jingle

Film

"An African in America" Documentary by Thato Mwosa (2006 )
“In My Mother’s House” directed by Andrew Millington (2002)
“Bless the Mic” a documentary on the Ciperspace Festival by Michael Holley and Tommy Upshaw(1998)
“Don’t Tell Me You Love Me” by award winning film-maker Thato Mwosa.(2005)

Theatre-:

Harlem Renaissance Revisited –
Lead Role: Madame CJ Walker
Our Place Theatre Fundraiser-
Britney Spears Camp for Kids with Our Place Theatre Company-
Boston Opera House with Our Place Theatre Company-September
African-American Theatre Festival, Boston Center for the Arts-January

Newspapers/Newsletters:

*several times in Baystate Banner.
Boston Globe, Boston Baystate Banner, Weekly Dig, Onyx Informer Northeastern University, Mentors in Violence Prevention Newsletter, Casa Myrna Vasquez Newsletter.

Instrumentation

U-Meleni- Solo Performer/ as well as performer with a 3 piece band of talented musicians.

Discography

Independent Release:
Soul Psalms: Birth, Death , Resurrexion- October 2003
Cipherspace LIVE CD: Recorded at the Poetry Festival.

Audio

• Toita Sei? What Should We Do
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• Don't cry, girl child/ Usachema mwanasikana
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• Love is Not Supposed to Hurt
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• Kana ndinenyota-When I am thirsty u r the water
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• Usachema Mwanasikana(don't cry, girlchild)
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• I want to be born(poem)
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Lyrics

• Love Is Not Supposed To Hurt
• Uschema Mwanasikana(don't cry, girlchild)

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• U-Meleni's hit performance at Book Cafe [+ Show ]
  

  As an Actress, Activist-Educator and Singer/Musician, U-Meleni has been performing her poetry/son...
  As an Actress, Activist-Educator and Singer/Musician, U-Meleni has been performing her poetry/songs in many venues in Boston and internationally since 1996. U-Meleni was raised in many different parts of the world but she told TalkZimbabwe that she was thrilled to be back in Zim and performing in front of a crowd that is dear to her.
  
  She was performing at the Book Café in Harare last night.
  
  In a telephone conversation U-Meleni, evidently excited, said she was happy at the opportunity of establishing connections in the Southern African region.
  
  She liked the good energy and the good vibes she got from the people of Zimbabwe. This was in line with her “love-life-liberation” theme.
  
  When we asked her about her performance at the Book Café, U-Meleni told us that the people were very brilliant. They were excited and touched by her performance.
  
  Her performance touched on poignant issues relating to women and children – the two groups that are dear to her. She stressed the importance of self-love, perceptions of, and the essence of beauty.
  
  U-Meleni performed with the comedy duo, The Guests- Victor Mavedzenge and Michael Kudakwashe. The comedy duo will be in Edinburgh next week to perform at the Edinburgh French Festival. They will not be doing any comedy acts but will feature their new play called “The Territory”.
  
  U-Meleni plans to start work on her Sophomore Album collaborating with her brother Kudzai known as Tek Neek who is a talented young upcoming producer.
  
  Tek Neek, who is 19 years old and based in Zimbabwe, produces music, raps and sings. U-Meleni tells us Tek Neek will be attending the Academy of Sound Engineering in South Africa.
  
  She reservedly told us to watch this rising new talent.
  
  
  
  
  
  TalkZimbabwe

• What are we waiting for? The Unveiling of U-Meleni [+ Show ]
  

  Author: Thato Mwosa/11/9/2004 …..” U-Meleni is a Zimbabwean multi-dimensional Artist who has sizz...Author: Thato Mwosa/11/9/2004
  
  …..” U-Meleni is a Zimbabwean multi-dimensional Artist who has sizzled New England….(the artist) ability to marry jazz and African beats together with her poignant voice establishes her as a versatile international Artist.
  U-Meleni speaks from deep within her heart….takes women of the Diaspora on a journey many of us have traveled. ( the Artist) celebrates her feminity, her roots, her beauty and her passion. Listeners will be touched by the serenity of her piece ‘Remembrance” which is an elegy to the world suffering from AIDS and poverty. Her ending track “ Toita Sei” showcases the power of her voice: with this track, U-Meleni becomes not just a poet, but also a bona fide singer!”
  

• Drop Stop: Meditations On the State of Hip-Hop Nation [+ Show ]
  

  Author: ~ DJ Nomadik~/january 2004 “ Many excited listeners called in wanting to know where the...Author: ~ DJ Nomadik~/january 2004
  
  
  “ Many excited listeners called in wanting to know where they could hear more of her….She sings in English and her native tongue …..the style reminds me of Meshell Ndegeocello. In Resurrexion the song “kana ndinenyota” has got to be my favorite. U-Meleni;’s sweet voice..speaks of self discovery and also gives respect in ‘Remembrance’ “
  
  

• Local Poets [+ Show ]
  

  Author: Kay Bourne ”. “Talk about atoms in a cyclotron. We became a magnetic field taking in her ...Author: Kay Bourne
  
  ”. “Talk about atoms in a cyclotron. We became a magnetic field taking in her images…."

• Din Reviews [+ Show ]
  

  Author: Jamarhl Crawford “ ‘ Soul Psalms: Birth, Death, Resurrexion’ is a wonderfully crafted ex...Author: Jamarhl Crawford
  
  “ ‘ Soul Psalms: Birth, Death, Resurrexion’ is a wonderfully crafted excursion into a world where spoken word poetry meets jazz, reggae, hip hop, world music and funk…….Prepare to be angered,relaxed, challenged, soothed and renewed all at once. U-Meleni spins arful tales…..Truly this CD is one of the best local productions by an individual artist……”
  
  

Setlist

I do a combination of spoken word pieces, and singing in english and my native language shona. I also play guitar when I peform. I do 35-45 min sets, sometimes longer. Other times i bring 3 piece band.

Basic Requirements

Calendar