Mwanza Furaha

Dr. Mwanza Furaha: Vocalist, actor, producer Dr. Mwanza Furaha has been bringing down the house for over sixty-eight years with no end in sight. She is known for her Cabaret Underground Productions which celebrate African American contributions to the world with insightful context and a personal twist. In recognition of her contributions, she received an Honorary Doctorate for Music and the Arts in 2014 from the United Graduate College & Seminary International.

Legends I Have Known: Mwanza has worked with jazz legends Richard "Groove" Holmes, Pharaoh Sanders, Merle Saunders, Pee Wee Ellis, and Billy Eckstine, and with the incomparable U.S. Poet Laureate Dr. Maya Angelou, to name a few.

She is a sought after jazz, blues, R&B, funk, gospel, soul, country, pop and rock lead vocalist performing throughout California, including with her own band Chocolate Medicine and with others such as popular Bay Area band Garry Graham’s Good Time Band.

UPCOMING events

Sunday, July 27, 2025, 6-9p; Geoffrey’s Inner Circle, 410-14th St., Oakland, CA 94612; $15 adv - $20 door

Saturday, August 23, 2025, 6-8p; Sausalito Seahorse, 305 Harbor Dr., Sausalito, CA 94965 - $20 door - RSVP for Tables @ 415-331-2899

Sunday, August 31, 2025, 6-9p; Geoffrey’s Inner Circle, 410-14th St., Oakland, 94612; $15 adv - $20 door

Saturday, September 13, 2025, 6-9p; Garry Graham Good Time Band Dinner Show @ Sausalito Seahorse, 305 Harbor Drive, Sausalito, CA 94965 - RSVP for Tables @ 415-331-2899

Saturday, October 4, 2025, 12-4p; Dr. Mwanza’s 80th Birthday Celebration @ Sausalito Seahorse, 305 Harbor Drive, Sausalito, CA 94965; $15 at door

PAST EVENTS

Sunday, July 20, 2025, 6-9p; Geoffrey’s Inner Circle, 410-14th St., Oakland, CA 94612; $15 adv - $20 door

Saturday, July 12, 2025, 6-9p, Garry Graham Good Time Band Dinner Show @ Sausalito Seahorse, 305 Harbor Drive, Sausalito, CA 94965 - RSVP for Tables @ 514-331-2899

Thursday, May 15, 2025, 6:30-8:00p, Recognition of Mental Health Month @ Marin City Art & Cultural, 100 Donahue Street, Suite 190 B, Marin City, CA 94965

Saturday, May 31, 2025, 12-2p; Mental Health Awareness Month Fundraiser @ Sausalito Seahorse, 305 Harbor Drive, Sausalito, CA 94965 RSVP: 415-331-2899

Saturday, June 21, 2025, 11a-6p; Marin City Juneteenth Commemoration Festival @ George Rocky Graham Park, 850 Drake Ave., Marin City, CA 94965

Thursday, July 3, 2025, 6-6:45p; Marin County Fair, 10 Avenue of the Flags, San Rafael, CA 94901

Thursday, July 5, 2025, 12-12:45p; Marin County Fair, 10 Avenue of the Flags, San Rafael, CA 94901

Saturday, June 22, 2024, 12-8p, Marin City 8th Annual Juneteenth Commemoration Festival, Marin City, CA 94965

Saturday, April 6, 2024, 10a-2p - A Great Day for Jazz & Blues in The Coachella Valley, 66 Years After the Iconic’ Great Day in Harlem Photo, Cathedral City Hall & The Roost Lounge; Cathedral City, CA

Saturday, April 13, 2024, 4-7p - Marin City Commemoration, 501 Drake Ave., Marin City, CA 95965 - Free Event

Tuesday, March 19, 2024, 7-9p — Legends I Have Known at The California Theatre in Santa Rosa, CA - https://www.caltheatre.com/event-details/legends-i-have-known-mwanza-furaha This performance is going to be filmed.

February 1-29, 2024, Sequoia Living Group-Black History Exhibition, San Francisco Senior Center Blue Room, Aquatic Park Bathhouse Building (Maritime Museum), San Francisco, CA

Saturday, February 17, 2-4p — Legends I Have Known at La Bodega Kitchen, Sonoma Wine Shop, Sebastapol, CA - Tickets

VOCALIST, ACTOR, PRODUCER, INSTRUCTOR, ENTERTAINER.

Mwanza Furaha has performed with many legendary artists, including Richard 'Groove' Holmes, Pharaoh Sanders, Billy Eckstine, Maya Angelou, Carmen McRae, Harold Nicholas of the Nicholas Brothers, Sun Ra, Ted Lange, and many more. She has shared bills with Betty Carter, Esther Phillips, Lou Rawls.

Her theatrical, television and film credits include Blacks, Blues, Black (Maya Angelou), The Belva Davis Show, Love At First Bite, Bullet, Mr Windfall, Space Is The Place (Sun Ra), Cotton Club Revue, Stompin' At The Savoy (Harold Nicholas), The Amen Corner, Purlie, Take A Giant Step, Your Arms Too Short To Box With God, MonkNBud, Waiting To Be Invited, and Metal.

Born in Texas, Mwanza spent her formative years in the San Francisco Bay Area and has performed throughout the U.S. and in several countries including Canada, Mexico, China, Japan, and the Philippines.

CLICK HERE FOR MWANZA'S EXTENDED BIO & CAREER HIGHLIGHTS