Mwanza Furaha

Dr. Mwanza Furaha: Vocalist, actor, producer Dr. Mwanza Furaha has been bringing down the house for over sixty-eight years with no end in sight. She is known for her Cabaret Underground Productions which celebrate African American contributions to the world with insightful context and a personal twist. In recognition of her contributions, she received an Honorary Doctorate for Music and the Arts in 2014 from the United Graduate College & Seminary International.

Legends I Have Known: Mwanza has worked with jazz legends Richard "Groove" Holmes, Pharaoh Sanders, Merle Saunders, Pee Wee Ellis, and Billy Eckstine, and with the incomparable U.S. Poet Laureate Dr. Maya Angelou, to name a few.

She is a sought after jazz, blues, R&B, funk, gospel, soul, country, pop and rock lead vocalist performing throughout California, including with her own band Chocolate Medicine and with others such as popular Bay Area band PB&Jam.

UPCOMING events

First Sunday of the Month 5-7p - Mac’s at 19 Broadway, Fairfax, CA with the 19 Broadway Good Time Band

Saturday, May 18, 2024, 3-6p - Charlotte’s Web Farm, 3395 Harrison Grade Road, Sebastopol, CA 95472 - https://charlotteswebfarm.com

Sunday June 30, 2024, 5-6:30p Family Music Hour, San Geronimo Valley Community Center Pavilion, 6350 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., San Geronimo, CA 94963

Sunday, July 3 - 7, 2024, - Marin County Fair

PAST EVENTS

Friday, April 5, 2024, 6-10p - The Stanley Bulter Trio, Dr. Mwanza Furaha, Guest Vocalist. The Omni Hotel, 41-000 Bob Hope Dr., Rancho Mirage, CA 92270

Saturday, April 6, 2024, 10a-2p - A Great Day for Jazz & Blues in The Coachella Valley, 66 Years After the Iconic’ Great Day in Harlem Photo, Cathedral City Hall & The Roost Lounge; Cathedral City, CA

Saturday, April 6, 2024, 6-10p - The Stanley Bulter Trio, Dr. Mwanza Furaha, Guest Vocalist. The Omni Hotel, 41-000 Bob Hope Dr., Rancho Mirage, CA 92270

Monday, April 8, 2024, 6:30-10p -Johnny Mesa & Walle Larsson, featuring Dr. Mwanza Furaha, BaBaLoo, 73833 CA-111, Palm Desert, CA 92260

Saturday, April 13, 2024, 4-7p - Marin City Commemoration, 501 Drake Ave., Marin City, CA 95965 - Free EventTuesday, March 19, 2024, 7-9p — Legends I Have Known at The California Theatre in Santa Rosa, CA - https://www.caltheatre.com/event-details/legends-i-have-known-mwanza-furaha This performance is going to be filmed.

February 1-29, 2024, Sequoia Living Group-Black History Exhibition, San Francisco Senior Center Blue Room, Aquatic Park Bathhouse Building (Maritime Museum), San Francisco, CA

Saturday, February 17, 2-4p — Legends I Have Known at La Bodega Kitchen, Sonoma Wine Shop, Sebastapol, CA - Tickets

Saturday, February 17, 7-10p - PB&Jam featuring Dr. Mwanza Furaha at Marin Tam Commons 1300 4th St., San Rafael, CA

Dec 31, 2023 - Sonoma Hopmonk with PB & Jam

July 8, 2023 - La Bodega Kitchen

Nov 5, 2022, Jan 15, 2023 - Geoffrey’s Inner Circle

June 30, 2022 & 2023 - Marin County Fair

June 2021 and 2022 – 11am - 6pm, Marin City 5th Annual Juneteenth Festival

Sept 12, 2021 - 11am - 6pm, “Junteenth in West Marin” - San Geronimo Valley Community Center - LINK

February 2021 – 11am, Honoring Black Voices (Zoom)

VOCALIST, ACTOR, PRODUCER, INSTRUCTOR, ENTERTAINER.

Mwanza Furaha has performed with many legendary artists, including Richard 'Groove' Holmes, Pharaoh Sanders, Billy Eckstine, Maya Angelou, Carmen McRae, Harold Nicholas of the Nicholas Brothers, Sun Ra, Ted Lange, and many more. She has shared bills with Betty Carter, Esther Phillips, Lou Rawls.

Her theatrical, television and film credits include Blacks, Blues, Black (Maya Angelou), The Belva Davis Show, Love At First Bite, Bullet, Mr Windfall, Space Is The Place (Sun Ra), Cotton Club Revue, Stompin' At The Savoy (Harold Nicholas), The Amen Corner, Purlie, Take A Giant Step, Your Arms Too Short To Box With God, MonkNBud, Waiting To Be Invited, and Metal.

Born in Texas, Mwanza spent her formative years in the San Francisco Bay Area and has performed throughout the U.S. and in several countries including Canada, Mexico, China, Japan, and the Philippines.

CLICK HERE FOR MWANZA'S EXTENDED BIO & CAREER HIGHLIGHTS