Biography:

Dumi RIGHT is a performing artist, MC, writer and organizer, who has been recognized as a standard bearer in global and progressive hip hop circles for many years. In fact his group, Zimbabwe Legit is widely regarded as the first African hop group’s to receive widespread recognition with their self-titled 1992 debut that included production by The Black Sheep and DJ Shadow (All Music Guide). His influence has been documented in the domestic and international mass media as well as in academic works of hip hop history, including Say It Loud! The Story of Rap Music by K. Maurice Jones.

At the beginning of 2016, Dumi RIGHT was selected to complete a residency in Thailand teaching emceeing to youth in underserved communities as part of the Next Level cultural exchange initiative. Next Level is a program administered by the U.S Department of State and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Over the course of his career he has performed both internationally (Japan, France, Zimbabwe, Thailand) and domestically, including at high profile venues including the Kennedy Center, Blues Alley, 930 Club, Brooklyn Academy of Music and the Smithsonian Institution.

Notably in 2014, Dumi was selected to be the official MC and host for the International Hip Hop Concerts as part of the Kennedy Center One Mic Hip Hop Festival in Washington, DC featuring groups from countries including Cape Verde, Korea, South Africa, Senegal and more. He also hosted a related international hip hop video program Planet Hip Hop, providing introductions and background on over 4 dozen international hip hop videos for a series that was created especially for the One Mic Festival. In addition his group performed with a band, a DJ and dancers in one of the best attended and vibrant shows in that series at the festival.

Additional Background

Dumi RIGHT is a member of the pioneering and groundbreaking hip-hop crew Zimbabwe Legit, one of first rap groups from Africa to make a splash worldwide.

In the years since that debut during what is referred to as hip hop's golden age, he has remained immersed in the culture and business of hip-hop releasing underground tunes and performing all across the country and the world stage.

Accolades have included recognition like an award in the Numark Musical Innovator contest a Washington Area Music Award.

His craft is steeped in classic hip-hop styles, with thought-provoking lyrics and poignant wordplay over a backdrop of rugged beats from some of the underground's finest producers. The scope and scale of his work exhibits broad geographic and cultural diversity with collaborations with artists from across the globe as well as notable US hip-hop luminaries including the likes of the Jungle Brothers, Mr. Lif, stic man (dead prez), Chubb Rock, Vast Aire, YZ, Prince Po, Buckshot and more.

Dumi RIGHT even received a ringing endorsement from the legendary poet Nikki Giovanni in a poem she created at his request for an interlude on his album O.U.O - of unknown origin. As she poignantly states, “I am Nikki Giovanni, I poet of unknown origin, I taught Dumisani, he poets too.”

Other recent releases include the album called Alternate Reality, a project with producer/MC and longtime collaborator Cadence from Raw Produce.

Dumi most recently released a solo album titled, Connect the Dots featuring MCs from all over Africa and other countries worldwide.