Who's Who

Ajamu Mutima

Ajamu Mutima has been a performing artist in residence with Shands Arts in Medicine for nearly five years. He performs at the weekly Atrium Performance Series, as well as on the BMTU and for special events and fund-raisers. Playing his traditional African kora, a large gourd-based instrument with 21 strings, Ajamu sings his original, uplifting songs, and tells stories based on African folk tales. He also occasionally accompanies dance classes for CAHRE co-director Jill Sonke-Henderson, and composes original music for her choreography.

Ajamu has been an active member of the arts community in North Florida for many years. He has been an actor, scriptwriter, storyteller, and musician. He started the first grassroots community theatre in Gainesville over twenty years ago, a theatre that is still successful today. He has formed many local organizations, and worked with several programs to bring the arts to at-risk children. Through the Florida Arts Celebration, he worked alongside director Marion Caffey and musician Cathy DeWitt in the Kids on Track program, writing an original script and helping at-risk kids create and present a large-scale theatre production to their friends, families, and community leaders. He performs at several annual storytelling festivals throughout the United States each year.

Ajamu recently expanded his healing music program to work with patients at Hospice and St. Catherine Laboure Manor in partnership with the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens in Jacksonville, Florida.