Elisha Zimbeva’s Biography

Birthname: Elisha Zimbeva

Born: May 2, 1993, Chitungwiza

Marital Status: Married (To Linda Gaba Zimbeva)

Education: Zimbabwe College of Music 2013 -2015, ABRSM

Genre: Jazz, Zimbabwean Traditional Music and Gospel

Influences: Filbert Marova, Jacky, Oscar Peterson, George Duke and Duke
Ellington

Occupations: Music Teacher (Lusitania Primary School and Twelve Notes

Piano Academy), Jazz Pianist/accompanist, Composer and
music director

Instruments: Piano, Keyboard/Synthesizer, Marimba, Bass guitar, Mbira and

Acoustic Guitar
Years Active: 2012 –

Associated Acts: Blessing Chimanga, Prudence Mbofana, Rute Mbangwa, Vera,

Wellington Kwenda, Kudzi Nyakudya, Ba Shupi, Richard
Chimbetete (D28), Dudu Manhenga, Rumbie Zvirikuzhe,
Zimboita, Tatenda Mahachi, Perfect 4th, Carmen Hwarari, Judah
Gavra (USA) Barry Likumahuwa (Indonesia), Peni Candrarini
(Indonesia), Richard Dube Violin Twins (India),
Lakshminarayana Shankar (India) John Antony (india), Amavel
Pinto, Rudo Chasi, Sam Dondo, Purple Pride and many more.

Countries Toured: Zimbabwe, South Africa, Mozambique, Zambia, Ethiopia,

Kenya, India, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia.

Elisha Zimbeva In India

 Elisha Zimbeva, based in Harare, was born and bred in
Chitungwiza in a musical family.

At the age of thirteen, Zimbeva began honing his skills on piano

and organ. After finishing O level in 2010, he moved to
Botswana where he started playing with church groups and a
Zimbabwean artist, Rumbie Zvirikuzhe, who was then based in
Botswana. He also supported his brother, an artist in his own
right, who was at the time involved in several music projects.

Zimbeva on his favourite instrument

In 2013, he came back from Botswana and started his music

studies at Zimbabwe College of Music. That is where his jazz
skills and music reading skills developed. During his music
studies, he met several artists and worked with them on both
long term and short-term projects. To date, he still plays with
some of the aforementioned artists like Blessing “Bled”
Chimanga, Rute Mbangwa, Vera and Dudu Manhenga.
 He was formally introduced to jazz by Filbert Marova.
Zimbeva’s passion for the genre had already been born by his
constant listening to Oscar Peterson and George Duke such that
Marova confirmed what Zimbeva was inspired to do.

Zimbeva’s favourite line is “I got the groove” and is known on the stage as “Elisha on keys”.

In 2015, he started travelling around the world with Bled. He got

to play with international artists as well. Most of these tours were
festivals which included Global Isai, India, Jacaranda Festival,
October Fusion, India, Sipa Solo international Performing Arts
Festival, Indonesia and Barefeet Festival, Zambia and many
more. An exciting moment was when Zimbeva and team played
at the British Council, Chennai, India where her Highness,
Queen Elizabeth II’s birthday was being celebrated.
Queen’s Birthday

Elisha Zimbeva at Global Isai Festival in India.

In 2016, Zimbeva was employed at Lusitania Primary school as

a permanent music teacher where he still teaches. It is at this
point that his musical influence spread to young children. He
 also set Lusitania on high through his dedication and hard work
winning several awards for the school, chief among them from
Allied Arts. Inspired by the difference he was making in his
students at school, Zimbeva soon founded Twelve Notes Piano
Academy, a music academy that focuses on teaching young
children from the tender age of four years instruments and
largely focusing on classic music.

One of the Twelve Notes Piano Academy Students.

Zimbeva sharing African music in a workshop in Asia.

In 2018, he sat and excelled in exams with ABRSM, South

Africa setting him on Grade 5 Singing and Theory of music. This
qualification landed him a good post in conducting solo acts and
school choirs. The most memorable event was when he
conducted the 2018 UNESCO Jazz Day which was held at
Harare International School where he worked with the renowned
jazz artists; Bernie Henderson, Tinashe Jera and Rute
Mbangwa. The second act at Harare International School was in
the same year when he made part of the band for the “Can You
Hear Me” musical that was targeted at addressing drug abuse
challenges amongst youth. Prudence Mbofana, Bernie
Henderson, Carmen Hwarari and Bled could not have done this
without Elisha!
HIFA stage 2017
Elisha is no stranger to local festivals like HIFA, Miombo festival, Good
Food Festival, Jacaranda Festival, November Jazz, International Jazz
Festival, Chimanimani Arts Festival and many more. He is a friend of
the Jazzics Festival that is held annually at Alliance Francaise in
Harare.

In 2018, Zimbeva landed his feet at the Zimbabwe State House

where he played with Rute Mbangwa as part of the outfit that
had been invited to the Presidential luncheon celebrations for
President E.D. Mnangagwa’s electoral victory.

Currently, Zimbeva’s focus is on solidifying and expanding his

Academy and empowering other upcoming artists. He is also
working on a jazz album, with some of the songs almost now
ready for publishing.

His major advice and word of inspiration to both young and old,
upcoming and established musicians is that hard-work and
determination never disappoint. Even in the current tough times
that the whole world is facing due to the Covid-19 pandemic,
one should minimise giving excuses as time waits for nobody!
Sipa Festival Indonesia