Kanukai Chigamba

BdA Minister of Information

Kanukai Chigamba is a multifaceted dancer, musician, performer, and burgeoning photographer. At a young age in Harare, Zimbabwe, she danced at Biras and later joined the Mhembero Dance Troupe, performing traditional Zimbabwean dance. In 2010, Chigamba moved to Oakland, CA and has since expanded her dance repertoire in both traditional and urban styles as a lead performer of the renowned Chinyakare Ensemble, and principal in Gbedu Town Radio, a Pan Afro Urban Music and Dance Ensemble.

Chigamba has performed all over the United States, including at the San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival, Zimbabwe Music Festival USA (Zimfest), Monterey Bay Reggaefest and the Africa Day Celebration in Washington, D.C.

Her arts and cultural background is reinforced by a bachelor's degree in International Relations from Sacramento State University, her travels to Togo and her work with Yoram Savion/YAK Films, Julia Chigamba, Nkeiruka Oruche, Stern Grove Festival, Destiny Arts, Afro Urban Society, and the Oakland Museum of California.

Along with new performance work, teaching and program administration, Chigamba  is currently embarking on her next major project, a photographic essay series featuring African women navigating the complexities and opportunities of street transportation.