Bulawayo-bred Afro-jazz musician Edith WeUtonga has opened up about her journey from uncertainty to international recognition, revealing how relocating abroad transformed rather than diminished her career.
A few years ago, the Kadoma-born artist — real name Edith Katiji — relocated to the United Kingdom on a scholarship to pursue her Master’s degree.
But what began as an academic journey soon turned into a defining moment in her musical career.
At the time, as the world grappled with the Covid-19 pandemic, her student visa was nearing expiration, forcing her to consider her next move.
Encouraged by her professors, WeUtonga, also known as Mama Bass, applied for the UK’s Global Talent Visa — an opportunity reserved for individuals with exceptional promise and achievement.
She was granted an Exceptional Global Talent Visa, a recognition of her artistic impact in Zimbabwe and beyond.
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Despite the milestone, not everyone believed in her decision to stay abroad.
“They told me moving to the UK would kill my career,” WeUtonga shared on her Facebook page recently.
“My response was simple — I said I would wait and see that happen.”
Instead, the move became a turning point.
After two years of working with communities and collaborating with her team at One World Orchestra UK, WeUtonga began to carve out a space for her brand on the international stage.
A breakthrough moment came in 2024 when she performed Rudo, a song from her second album, during a live concert.
The performance drew attention and opened new doors.
“I performed Rudo at a concert and got singled out. The rest, as they say, is history,” she said.
Her momentum carried into 2025, a year she describes as one of her most rewarding yet.
Her work Varipasi earned a nomination for Folk Album of the Year, while her music gained airplay on major platforms including the BBC Radio.
She also secured bookings at high-profile events she once only dreamed of attending.
“I’m so glad I never stopped. The fire never died,” she said.
“Today, I smile as my name is mentioned in rooms I once dreamed of, and my music is played, pressed on vinyl, and listened to on global platforms.”
Now based in the United States, WeUtonga continues to grow her international footprint while staying rooted in her Zimbabwean identity.
Known for blending Afro-jazz with traditional sounds, she sings in multiple languages including Shona, Ndebele, Chichewa and English — reflecting her diverse cultural background.
A multi-instrumentalist, she remains one of the few Zimbabwean female bass guitarists who also leads a band, Utonga, meaning “dawn” — a fitting symbol for her evolving journey.
Her story stands as a powerful reminder that crossing borders does not always mean losing one’s identity or career—it can mean expanding it.
“We keep walking. Always,” she said.
Born in Kadoma, WeUtonga received early education at Chedonje Primary School in Rimuka and later moved to Bulawayo, where she attended Townsend High School. Her father was stationed at Bulawayo’s Brady Barracks, where she was able to work with the Zimbabwe National Army band from a young age.