Mono Mukundu

He opened Monolio studios in 2007 but also worked with Chiwoniso Maraire as part of her tour band which toured Europe in 2007 and 2008.

2003, he joined Oliver Mtukudzi and the black spirits band, toured around the world &recorded four albums together then left in 2007 after four years.

In 2001, Mukundu enrolled at the Zimbabwe College of Music, graduated in 2002 and was given best guitar student award.

In 1993, Mukundu formed Reggae duo with a friend Christopher Kamowa ”Chris & Mono”, but the duo disbanded after the failure of a number of demo tapes. 1994, he joined “John Ali & the Marakashi band”, a band that played Congolese rhumba and Soukous, that was composed of Zimbabwean, Zambian and Congolese musicians and it disbanded same year. Later that year, Mukundu joined Egea Gospel Train on Tuesday 28 June 1994 after converting to Christianity, the band included Ivy Kombo, Annie Kombo and Carol Mujokoro. The group recorded the album ”Ndinokudai Jesu” and toured around Zimbabwe and Mozambique doing outreach programmes.

In 1990, Mukundu moved to Mutare where he co-founded the band Chikokoko. He left Mutare end of 1991 after recording the album Ruvengo, and the band went on a sabbatical break. During Chikokoko band break, Mukundu relocated to Mutare and joined The Hard workers band, a band that included guitarist Brian Nhanhanga. Chikokoko band dismantled in 1993.

In 1989, after the failure of Sarungano chanters, Mukundu Joined Chax brothers, a band that played sungura, reggae and mbira music. The band included Admire Kasenga and Jackson Phiri; he left the band in 1990.

On 22 January 1988, at age 17, Mukundu met Last Saidi, a bass player who taught him his first three chords on a standard guitar, he then went on to teach himself to play the lead guitar by copying other guitarists on radio & other guitarists he came in contact with. Later that year, Mukundu learnt standard guitar and formed first band Sarungano chanters. The band failed more than 10 record deal auditions which had a toll on the band members and this led to the group’s split in 1989.

Mukundu was born in September 1970 in town of Rusape, Zimbabwe. He is the second born in a family of eight children of George Mukundu and Joyce Gwatidzo.