I am a composer, vocalist, and a multidisciplinary artist of Xhosa and Zulu heritage, originally South Africa. My name is Thandanani Gumede, although most people call me Thanda (pronounced like ‘Tanda’)—a Zulu name that means Love One Another. My voice embodies the sounds of my dual heritage—including the distinct clicks of the southern Bantu languages—and I use it to share joy, lamentation, activism and connection
Debuted in the U.K. at the inaugural ‘Nelson Mandela Day’ which was sanctioned by the United Nations in London; my music blends African traditional sounds with jazz, gospel, classical and neo-soul—always rooted in rhythm, spirituality and story.
Performance appearances include the Haymarket Theatre Royal at the West End; the Roundhouse Theatre in London; the award winning Pizza Express Jazz Club in SOHO; the London Jazz festival, the BBC Proms and in Buckingham Palace for Her Majesty (the late) Queen Elizabeth II and her family. Additionally, I performed for the late Emeritus Bishop Desmond Tutu alongside cellists Abel Selaocoe and Yo-Yo Ma in London.
Radio and TV features include SKY 1, BBC Radio & BBC TV, SABC, ITV and Channel 5 with international exhibitions across the globe including Australia, Germany, Poland, South Africa and Thailand.
Leeds has become a creative home for me where I became a contributing author to Books Without Borders through the University of Leeds (commissioned by the Arts and Humanities Research Council). I’ve worked extensively with Opera North as well as with Jazz North and Manchester Jazz where I currently serve as a Board member.
Further collaborations (outside the north) include the National Youth Jazz Orchestra and Buxton International Festival where I was commissioned to compose the first ever African opera in Europe; I cross pollinated Classical music with jazz, gospel and African Traditional genre amalgamates. My passion is providing bespoke specialist vocal tuition to private clients and working with Otley Action where I serve as the MD for their choir for older people.
