Date:
Location:
We welcome Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter, playwright and actor, Somi Kakoma to Harvard’s Paine Hall for an intimate gathering of storytelling and songs celebrating legendary South African singer and political activist Miriam Makeba. Somi’s interpretations of Makeba’s best known recordings blend modern jazz, soul, and African groove, and can be heard on her latest album Zenzile: The Reimagination of Miriam Makeba (2022). This album and its songs serve as a tribute to Makeba’s extraordinary legacy and her monumental contribution to popular music and the global jazz idiom. In addition to performing Makeba’s material, Somi will share some of her own original compositions while offering deeper reflections on the personal inspiration gained from Makeba’s voice and messages of social justice. Dreaming Zenzile—the award-winning play about Makeba written and performed by Somi – premiered at ArtsEmerson’s Paramount Theatre in Boston last spring before heading to a run Off-Broadway in New York City. She was awarded an Elliot Norton Award from the Boston Theatre Critics Association for Best Lead Actor in a Visiting Production for her role as Miriam Makeba.
Somi is an artist of Rwandan and Ugandan descent based in the US. NPR describes her as “an ambitious artist and outstanding jazz singer who creates an elegant amalgam of her bicontinental experiences.” She has released seven albums to date and earned placings on leading international World Music and Jazz charts. Last year, she was nominated for a Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Album — making Somi the first African woman ever to be recognized in any of the Jazz categories. Somi is a recipient of the 2023 Doris Duke Artist Award, two NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Jazz Album, and the inaugural Jazz Music Award for Best Vocal Performance. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Creative Practice and Critical Inquiry at Harvard University’s Department of Music.
Ensemble:
Somi Kakoma, vocals
Myron Walden, saxophone
Keith Witty, bass
Toru Dodo, piano
Otis Brown III, drums
This event is part of ArtsThursdays, a university-wide initiative supported by Harvard University Committee on the Arts (HUCA).