Kanukai Chigamba

Kanukai Chigamba
program manager, performance & production

is a multifaceted dancer, musician, performer, and burgeoning photographer and filmmaker. started dancing at a young age in Harare, Zimbabwe, at Biras and later joined the Mhembero Dance Troupe, performing traditional Zimbabwean dance. In 2010, Chigamba moved to Oakland 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, Oregon 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, South Africa, 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, Kanukai is currently embarking on her next major project, a photographic essay series featuring African women navigating the complexities and opportunities of their emotional expressions.