Penny Stamps Speaker Series: Motown in Zimbabwe: Joyce Jenje Makwenda at Cultivate in Ypsilanti June 22.

An interesting event will be taking place at Cultivate in Ypsilanti Thursday, June 22. Archivist, historian. ethnomusicologist, and writer Joyce Jeje Makwenda will be speaking at Cultivate in Ypsilanti. Makwenda was born in Zimbabwe in 1958.  Makwenda resides in and works in Harare where she founded and operates the Joyce Jenje Makwenda Collection Archive. The archive is one of the oldest in  in Zimbabwe containing interviews, newspapers, vinyl records, photography, musical instruments, as well as other materials.

For over three decades Makwenda's work has concentrated on on matters of early urban culture, politics, music, education media, religion, cultural issues and Women's histories in Zimbabwe. Her published works include Zimbabwe Township Music (2005), Divorce Taken (2009), and Women Musicians  of Zimbabwe (2013).

Makwenda will be speaking with archivist, historian, and writer Dr Melvin Peters who taught in the Department African American Studies at Eastern Michigan University.

The event is presented in partnership with the Zimbabwe Cultural Centre of Detroit.

The event will take place Thursday, June 22, 6 pm at Cultivate located at 307 N. River Street in Ypsilanti.

Jeff Brown
Editor & Publisher
Purple Walrus Press.