WOWRAE

AfroHouse Percussionist | Marimba Artist | Zimbabwean Music Innovator

Kudzai Vincent Muwori, professionally known as WOWRAE, is an award-winning Zimbabwean percussionist, composer, marimba ensemble arranger, teacher, and producer and AfroHouse artist known for seamlessly blending traditional African instrumentation with contemporary African Electronic Dance music. Based in Harare, WOWRAE has spent over 16 years developing a distinctive musical style that centres the marimba and Zimbabwean percussion within the global AfroHouse movement.

His musical journey began in childhood, inspired by his sister’s high school marimba performances and nurtured through formal education at Hartmann House and St George’s College. There, he began experimenting through reinterpreting and reimagining EDM and House music using traditional instruments, which was an innovative approach that laid the foundation for his unique sound today.

Gaining momentum during the COVID-19 pandemic through his viral marimba covers of Amapiano, House, and EDM tracks, WOWRAE has since emerged as a prominent figure in Zimbabwe’s live electronic music scene. His high energy, explosive and expressive performances are characterised by live marimba, ngoma (mutumba and tonga drums), hosho, bongo drumsw, and traditional percussion played in harmony with AfroHouse & AfroTech music, which creates a powerful synthesis of heritage and modernity. This bridges the gap between tradition and innovation, which always resonates with diverse audiences. All of the percussion and marimba loops in his discography are  recorded live in studio, underscoring his commitment to authenticity and musicianship.

WOWRAE recently won the Artistic Expression Award at the ZCTA Awards (Zimbabwe Community Trailblazers Awards), held in December 2025. 
The citation reads: 

The Zim Community Trailblazers Awards Committee is pleased to recognize your outstanding achievements in the arts and culture sector. Your work as a percussionist has not only demonstrated extraordinary musical talent but also a deep commitment to preserving and promoting Zimbabwean cultural heritage. Your artistry has woven together age-old rhythms, indigenous instruments, and contemporary performance styles, creating an experience that is both rooted in cultural heritage and boldly original. Your ability to bridge the past and the future, showcasing traditional instruments such as the marimba, ngoma, and hosho, while infusing them with dynamic rhythms and modern arrangements, has set you apart as a true trailblazer in the Zimbabwean music scene. Your dedication to storytelling through rhythm and your collaborations across genres have helped bring Zimbabwean traditional sounds to global stages, inspiring young artists to rediscover and take pride in their musical roots.

WOWRAE has performed at leading music festivals and cultural events, including:

Realm Of Percussion (An exclusive outdoor AfroHouse event founded and directed by WOWRAE, through an effort to express his artistry in scenic environments and nature)
Lake of Stars Festival (Malawi) – 2019 & 2025.
Wedding Performance (Kenya)
Destination Wedding Planners (Victoria Falls)
The AftersKE Festival (Kenya)
ADUMA (Kenya)
Stanbic Jacaranda Music Festival
Unplugged Music Festival 
European Film Festival 2025 
Miombo Magic Festival
Shoko Festival
Deep End by Hidden Culture
Mbare Grills Festival
263 Culture Fest
Garden Of House
Munch & Sip Bulawayo
Neverland
Fiesta Fiesta
Castle Lite Nights by Castle Lite
BIG 5IVE
European Union National Day
Oktoberfest 
Ewanrigg Enchanted Festival

He has also collaborated with a wide range of artists, including:

Jah Prayzah, Gemma Griffiths, Shungudzo, ISHE, Tahle WeDzinza, Sylent Nqo, Othnell “Mangoma” Moyo

As well as producers and DJs such as:

BlawuMadeIt, Bam Bam Madame, MadeHerBelieve, Jason Le Roux, Samuel Cosmic, AneUnhu

Beyond performance, WOWRAE is also a dedicated educator. He teaches marimba and percussion at St George’s College, Peterhouse Boys’ School, and AfriKera Arts Trust, where he composes original works for marimba ensembles and nurtures the next generation of Zimbabwean musicians.

His last single, released on May 9, 2025, explores the emotional complexities of love and vulnerability, marking the beginning of a new chapter of original AfroHouse releases set to be unveiled in the year 2026 - featuring collaborations with notable artists and vocalists. 

Fun Fact: The name “WOWRAE” is a stylised nickname derived from his surname, Muwori, coined by friends during high school—a playful moniker that now represents a powerful artistic identity.