U-MELENI
Award Winning SPOKEN WORD ARTIST, ACTRESS,
International PERFORANCE ARTIST, Singer/Songwriter/Musician, Health/ Wellness Educator, Creative Consultant~Amateur Photographer.....
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 since 1996.
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.
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 is a Public Health Practionmer teaching Health, Wellness and Life Skills through the Arts to students in the Boston Public Schools and communities. Her passion for youth started in her undergraduate career tutoring in the UMASS Boston Urban Scholars. To date she has facilitated over 600 workshops, personally taught over 2000 students some of whom are now in colleges ranging from Harvard University to Berklee College of Music, Bunkerhill College to UMASS.
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. Boston, MA.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
2007
• ‘Ya Ma’Afrika” – Lead Actress produced by Thato Mwosa on satellite TV & AfrovisionTV.
• BANA AFRIKA Concert African Artists Against Aids in Boston, MA- Host
• Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston-dance collaboration, sound and movement.
2006
• That Takes Ovaries- original song “Toita Sei?” used in promotional video.
• Empowerment Arts Tour to SA & Zimbabwe -performing at 7 schools in Soweto, Horror Café, YFM RADIO , Xarra Bookstore for Women’s History Month Celebrations.
• The Book Café, Zimbabwe with top artists Filbert Marova and private shows for Dr & Mrs. Kamba (board on Harare International Festival of the Arts-HIFA)
• Daisy Dube Orphanage- raised $54million Zim dollars for children.
• University of Wits-Joberg, SA- CD” Soul Psalms-Birth, Death, Resurrexion” used as teaching tool in “Black Poetics “class.
2005
• American Idol Underground – Winner of 1st Spoken word competition.
• The Binnacle, University of Maine, MA- honored writer in short story competition
• Macarthur Genius Award Recipient, Dr John Rich- commissioned to write & perform at his Farewell celebrations.
2004
• Boston Opera House-Performed in the only black theatre company at the opening,
• Young Black Professionals Night-Performed introducing Deval Patrick now Governor of Massachusetts.
• The Weekly Dig-CD reviewed in the new music section.
• WERS 88.9 FM Emerson College-performed at LIVE MUSIC WEEK.
• Britney Spears Camp with Our Place Theatre Company-performed original works.
2003
• “Soul Psalms-Birth, Death, Resurrexion”-produced and self released full length CD of music and spoken word.
• Roxbury Film Festival- acted and co-wrote narration for indie film “In My Mothers House”.
1999-2002
• Neo-Soul Festival (Bermuda) - wrote jingle.
• Afro centric Productions-valentines poetics
• Urban Griots- host and member organizer of weekly art & activism event.
• Dorchester Women’s Committee-International Women’s Day celebrations(Poetry/music)
• Liquid Fusion- host& organizer of weekly open mic for artists (all genres) with live band at Milky Way Lounge, Jamaica Plain, MA.
• Cipherspace Show, CD live and Documentary-poetry.
• Harlem Renaissance revisited- lead Actress (play)
* Featured in The Boston Globe Dec 1999.
Spoken Word & Music/Vocal Performances
• over 500 performances
Colleges:
Africa University, Mutare , Zimbabwe
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:
Book Cafe, Harare, Zimbabwe ( 8/17/06)
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.yfm.co.za interviewed by DJ Thabe (8/9/06)
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/Websites:
*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.
International Newspapers:
Sunday Mail, Daily Mirror ( Harare, Zimbabwe)
www.itsbho.com
www.talkzimbabwe.com
Website
http://www.u-meleni.com
Discography
Independent Release:
Soul Psalms: Birth, Death , Resurrexion- October 2003
Cipherspace LIVE CD: Recorded at the Poetry Festival.