Hope Masike Biography
Hope Masike stands out as a talented artist from Zimbabwe. She plays the mbira, sings, dances, and creates in many ways. People call her the Princess of Mbira because she excels at this traditional instrument. The mbira is a thumb piano from Zimbabwe. It makes beautiful sounds with metal keys on a wooden board. Hope mixes old Zimbabwean music with new styles like jazz and reggae. This creates Afro-fusion music that people love around the world.
She grew up in a place rich with Shona culture. Shona is the main ethnic group in Zimbabwe. Their music and stories shaped her early years. Hope started her music path young. She learned to play instruments and sing. Over time, she became a singer, songwriter, percussionist, dancer, fashion designer, painter, poet, writer, and actress. She also teaches music.
Her music roots come from both old and new African ways. She wants to keep African culture alive in songs. At the same time, she updates it for today’s listeners. This mix makes her work special. Hope leads the band Monoswezi. This group blends sounds from different countries. She has performed in Africa, Europe, Asia, and the United States. Her shows bring energy and joy. Fans enjoy her smooth mbira playing and strong voice.
Hope’s work goes beyond music. She fights for women’s rights through her art. In Zimbabwe, women sometimes face limits in music. Hope breaks those barriers. She inspires young girls to follow their dreams. Her albums talk about love, identity, and strength. For example, one album deals with being single in a changing world. This shows her honest side.
This biography looks at Hope’s life step by step. It covers her start, learning, work, honors, private side, and more. Readers will learn about Zimbabwean music and culture. They will see how one person can blend old traditions with new ideas. Hope’s story teaches us about hard work and cultural pride. It shows how art can connect people across the globe.
Hope Masike Early Life
Hope Masike was born on September 9, 1984. Her birthplace was Musana, a rural area in Bindura district, Zimbabwe. Bindura sits north of Harare, the capital city. This region has farms and small communities. Hope grew up in a big family. She had eight siblings. Her parents raised them with Shona values. Shona people value community, stories, and music.
From a young age, Hope heard traditional songs. Family gatherings often included drumming and singing. The mbira played a big role in Shona life. People use it for ceremonies and fun. During colonial times, some called the mbira evil. But Hope’s family kept the tradition alive. This helped her love the instrument.
As a child, Hope faced challenges. Zimbabwe in the 1980s and 1990s changed after independence in 1980. People worked to build a new nation. But girls sometimes had fewer chances in arts. Hope broke through this. She joined church choirs. There, she learned to sing clearly and with feeling. Church music mixed with traditional tunes sparked her interest.
Hope’s home life taught her resilience. Rural living meant simple joys like storytelling. Elders shared tales of ancestors. These stories influenced her later songs. She drew from Shona folklore. This includes spirits and nature themes. Hope often says Africa inspires her. She carries her culture everywhere.
In her teens, Hope moved to Harare for better chances. The city buzzed with music scenes. Places like Book Cafe hosted artists. Hope watched performers and dreamed big. Pioneers like Chiwoniso Maraire inspired her. Chiwoniso played mbira too and fought for women in music. Hope wanted to follow that path.
Hope Masike Education
Hope Masike valued learning from the start. She went to school in Bindura first. Then, she moved to Harare for higher studies. Her main focus became music. She joined the Zimbabwe College of Music, or ZCM. This school trains artists in African and world music.
At ZCM, Hope earned a degree in music. She also got a diploma in fine art. Plus, she received national certificates in applied art and design. These covered performing and visual arts. Hope learned to play mbira deeply. Teachers showed her traditional techniques. She also studied percussion, singing, and dancing.
While at ZCM, Hope formed her first band in 2006. It was an Afro-jazz group. Members included Ben Kabasa on percussion and Tarisai Gweje on vocals. They practiced and performed together. This hands-on work helped her grow. In 2007, she started another band called Kakuwe. These groups let her experiment with sounds.
Hope did not stop learning after ZCM. In 2011, she moved to Norway. There, she taught African music at Kulturskolen i Fredrikstad. Teaching made her learn more. She shared mbira with students from other cultures. This broadened her view.
By 2022, Hope studied for a Master of Philosophy in Art. She did this at Arrupe Jesuit University in Harare. She also learned French at Alliance Française de Harare. French helps her connect with Francophone Africa. Her music draws from there too.
Education shaped Hope’s art. It blended skills like painting and fashion with music. She uses these in her work. For example, she designs clothes with African prints. Her paintings show Shona motifs. This mix makes her unique.
Aspiring artists can learn from Hope. Start with basics like mbira lessons online. Practice daily. Join groups to share ideas. Education opens doors in arts.
Hope Masike Career
Hope Masike’s career began in 2006 at ZCM. She formed an Afro-jazz band. They played local gigs. Some members left for South Africa, so the band ended. But Hope kept going. In 2007, she started Kakuwe. This group focused on fusion sounds.
In 2008, Hope performed professionally. She took over Tuesday nights at Book Cafe in Harare. Chiwoniso Maraire had left for the US. Book Cafe built her fans. Places like Delta Gallery and National Arts Gallery helped too. They hosted her shows.
Her debut album came in May 2009. It was called Hope. She produced it herself. Songs mixed mbira with jazz. Fans loved it. In May 2012, she released Mbira, Love and Chocolate. Again, self-produced. It explored love and heritage.
In 2011, Hope moved to Norway. She taught at Kulturskolen i Fredrikstad. There, she met artists from other lands. She formed Monoswezi. This band includes Norwegian, Mozambican, and Malawian members. Hope leads vocals. They blend African and Nordic sounds.
Monoswezi released albums too. The Village in 2013 on Riverboat Records. Then Monoswezi Yenga in 2015. A Je in 2017. These showed her global side.
Back in Zimbabwe, Hope focused on solo work. In 2019, she released The Exorcism of a Spinster. This album talked about womanhood. Tracks like Dreams of Dande pray for better places. It deals with single life and changes for women.
Hope tours widely. She played at Harare International Festival of the Arts, or HIFA, from 2010 on. She shared stages with Salif Keita. Other festivals include Bergen International Festival in Norway. Bushfire in Swaziland. Exile Festival in Serbia. Umoja Cultural Flying Carpet in Mozambique and South Africa.
Collaborations mark her career. She worked with Anniken Paulsen, a Norwegian pianist. Ibou Cissokho from Senegal. Sheila Mae Masungu from Mozambique. French DJ Oil. Bokani Dyer from South Africa. Also, Steve Dyer and Louis Mhlanga. The late Oliver Mtukudzi too.
Hope acts in theater. She led in Bongile, a musical drama from a book by Chiedza Makwara.
She writes books. In 2020, Ask Me Again, poems on women’s experiences. Topics include period pains and spinsterhood. In 2022, Dzevabvazera, in Shona and English on intimacy. In 2024, Our Sacred Place, poems from Song of Solomon. It helps couples nurture love.
Her discography includes:
- Hope, released in 2009, self-produced, raw Afro-jazz.
- Mbira, Love and Chocolate, released in 2012, self-produced, on love and roots.
- The Village, released in 2013 with Monoswezi, Riverboat Records, Norwegian mix.
- Monoswezi Yenga, released in 2015, group work on diaspora sounds.
- A Je, released in 2017, experimental fusion.
- The Exorcism of a Spinster, released in 2019, on womanhood.
Hope teaches workshops. She promotes African instruments. Since 2007, she reaches global audiences.
Hope Masike Awards and Recognition
Hope Masike has earned many honors. In 2012, she won the National Arts Merit Award, or NAMA, for Outstanding Female Musician. She was the first in that category. This award celebrates Zimbabwean artists.
In 2014, she got nominated for Zimbabwe Achievers Awards in International Music Artist.
In 2016, NAMA nominated her again for Outstanding Female Musician. Also, KORA Awards nominated her for Best Video. KORA is like Pan-African Grammys.
She received ZNCC Women in Enterprise Awards. This honors women in business and arts.
Hope was a OneBeat Fellow in 2014. OneBeat brings musicians together for exchanges.
Media features her often. She appears in Playing for Change and Music In Africa. Outlets call her a mbira custodian.
These awards show her impact. They motivate others. In Zimbabwe, NAMA boosts careers. Hope’s wins highlight women in music.
Hope Masike Personal Life
Hope Masike keeps her private life quiet. She lives in Harare, Zimbabwe. At 41 in 2025, she focuses on art and growth.
She is single. Her album The Exorcism of a Spinster talks about this. When young, she planned marriage at 26 and nine kids like her parents. But life changed. She embraces independence. No public info on a spouse or children.
Hope draws from personal experiences. Her poems cover women’s issues like health and rights. She writes for adults over 18. Topics include love and intimacy.
Faith plays a role. In 2013, she took a break for church music. This grounds her.
She loves all arts. Painting and fashion relax her. She designs Afro-centric clothes.
Hope advocates for women. She challenges old roles in Zimbabwe. Her work fosters tolerance.
As of 2025, she tours, writes, and teaches. Her life shows balance in creativity.
Conclusion
Hope Masike’s story inspires. From rural Zimbabwe to world stages, she carries mbira’s voice. Her Afro-fusion revives traditions. She teaches us to blend old and new.
Her legacy influences young artists. Like Olivia Charamba, they follow her. Hope promotes African pride.
FAQs
What is Hope Masike known for?
She is known as the Princess of Mbira. She plays mbira, sings, and creates Afro-fusion music.
Where was Hope Masike born?
She was born in Musana, Bindura, Zimbabwe, on September 9, 1984.
What is mbira?
Mbira is a traditional Zimbabwean thumb piano. It has metal keys on wood. People play it for ceremonies and music.
What are Hope Masike’s albums?
Her albums include Hope (2009), Mbira, Love and Chocolate (2012), The Village (2013), Monoswezi Yenga (2015), A Je (2017), and The Exorcism of a Spinster (2019).
Has Hope Masike won awards?
Yes, she won NAMA for Outstanding Female Musician in 2012. She got nominations for KORA and others.
Is Hope Masike married?
She is single. Her work often explores themes of independence and womanhood.
What does Hope Masike do now?
In 2025, she tours, writes books, and teaches. She lives in Harare and continues her art.
Does Hope Masike have books?
Yes, poetry like Ask Me Again (2020), Dzevabvazera (2022), and Our Sacred Place (2024).