Evason Gore

Evason Gore, known widely as Sekuru Gore, is the lead mbira player, vocalist, and cultural elder who directs the modern ensemble.

Born and raised in the rural community of Gutu, near the sacred Guruguru and Chamarima mountains in Zimbabwe, Sekuru Gore was introduced to the mbira dzavadzimu at an early age. In Shona tradition, the mbira is not merely an instrument learned through academic study, but a spiritual calling, passed down through dreams, family lineage, and deep listening to elders at bira ceremonies.

During the 1980s, Sekuru Gore engaged with the vibrant traditional music scene in Harare, connecting with the lineage of the historical **Mazana Movement** band. While the early band integrated electric instruments (guitars, drum kits) to participate in Zimbabwe’s worldbeat boom, Sekuru Gore’s modern work with the name refocuses the project back to its absolute acoustic core: the raw vibration of hand-forged steel, hollow wood logs, and mapudzi gourds with a light sprinkling of modernity in instrument choice.

In May 2025, Sekuru Gore recorded the landmark album Mbira Machokoto ne Ngoma Dzehushiri live in Rushinga, capturing six long-form traditional arrangements that showcase the intricate hocketing of the mbira and the physical drive of traditional ngoma drums.