nora chipaumire

nora chipaumire is an artist who has been challenging and embracing stereotypes of Africa, the black performing body, art, and aesthetics for over 20 years. Born in 1965 in what was then known as Umtali, Rhodesia (now Mutare, Zimbabwe), she is a product of colonial education for black native Africans — known as group B schooling —and is invested in knowledge acquisition and sharing outside of prescribed parameters.

chipaumire’s latest work is “NEHANDA”, a large-scale opera. Before and up to the start of the global pandemic chipaumire has been touring "#PUNK 100% POP *NIGGA" a three-part live performance album. Her other live works include "portrait of myself as my father" (2016), "RITE RIOT" (2012) and "Miriam" (2012). She released a Radio Opera (2021), has been featured in dance films and made her directorial debut with the short film "Afro Promo #1 King Lady" (2016).

Her long-term research project "nhaka," a technology-based practice and process to her artistic work, investigates the nature of black bodies and the products of their imaginations. “nhaka bhuku 1” has been published in 2020 at the courtesy of Matadero Publishing House (Spain). 

nora chipaumire has pursued studies at the University of Zimbabwe (law) and Mills College in Oakland, CA (dance). She is a four-time Bessie Award winner and recipient of the 2016 Trisha Mckenzie Memorial Award for her impact on the dance community in Zimbabwe. chipaumire has been honored with awards such as the “Dance Bubble” grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation (2021), a Guggenheim Fellowship (2018), two Doris Duke Artist Awards (2015 & 2023) and a Princeton Hodder Fellowship (2014). She is currently a Fellow at Quick Center for the Arts (2022-2023).