Bibian Kalinde
Zambia
President 2023-2025
Bibian Kalinde is an accomplished music educator with over 18 years of experience teaching music at tertiary institutions, including her current position as a lecturer and Assistant Dean Postgraduate in the School of Education at the University of Zambia. She earned her PhD and Master’s degrees from the University of Pretoria in 2017 and 2010, respectively, after completing her undergraduate studies at Kenyatta University.
Dr Kalinde’s academic responsibilities encompass instructing undergraduate students in various general music courses and providing guidance to postgraduate students in educational research and music education. Her research interests primarily revolve around music education in both tertiary and early childhood education contexts, as well as exploring the intersections of music with gender and politics within the framework of community practices.
In addition to her academic endeavours, Dr Kalinde has made significant contributions to the field of music education. She has served as the Vice-President of the Intercultural Music Initiatives (Africa) and is an active member of esteemed organizations such as the International Society for Music Education (ISME) and the National Association for Music Education (NAfME). Furthermore, she plays a pivotal role as an advisor within the executive committee of the Zambia Association of Music Educators. She is the National Arts Council representative on the Zambia Law Development Commission.
Looking ahead, Dr Kalinde envisions her future pursuits within PASMAE to involve the cultivation of collaborative partnerships with organizations that share an interest in music and the arts in Africa and beyond. She is also committed to advocating for research initiatives that contribute to the documentation and preservation of Africa’s diverse musical heritage, recognizing it as a valuable cultural asset.
Benon Kigozi
Uganda
Secretary General
Dr. Benon Kigozi is a senior faculty member at Makerere University, where he previously served as Head of the Department of Performing Arts and Film within the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. Prior to his tenure at Makerere, he was Head of Music at Africa University in Zimbabwe. His extensive contributions to music education, policy, and advocacy are reflected in his leadership roles, including Vice President of the African Music Council and both Honorary President and Secretary General of the Pan African Society for Musical Arts Education (PASMAE), where he also served as President for two terms.
With a global impact on music education, Dr. Kigozi has played a pivotal role in the International Society for Music Education (ISME), having served as a Board Member and currently contributing as a member of the ISME History Standing Committee. He is also a founding member of several ISME initiatives, including the Young Professionals Focus Group, New Professionals Forum, and the Advocacy Committee.
In addition to his academic and leadership engagements, Dr. Kigozi is member to prestigious music organizations, including the African Music Council (AMC), Music in Africa Foundation (MIA), the International Council for Traditional Music (ICTM), the International Jazz Association (IJA), and the National Association for the Study and Performance of African American Music (NASPAAM). His international scholarly and professional engagements include serving on editorial boards and conducting workshops and masterclasses at institutions such as Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) in South Africa, Stockton University, and Texas Tech University (TTU) in the United States.
Dr. Kigozi’s research interests encompass music technology, cultural policy, musical arts education, and composition. He has contributed to high-impact research projects, including UNESCO-funded studies on Cultural Policy for the Arts in Development and Arts Rights and Justice.
His contributions to music education and the arts have earned him prestigious accolades, including the National Arts Merit Award (NAMA) from the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe and the Outstanding Music Ministry Award from the Chicago Black United Methodist Pastors and St. Mark United Methodist Church, Chicago, USA.
As a renowned jazz pianist, Dr. Kigozi has performed in 15 countries worldwide, further solidifying his reputation as an esteemed musician, educator, and scholar. Outside of his professional commitments, he enjoys pursuing his passion for golf, and after coming runners up for the Rotary Golf Peace Championship, he recently won a prestigious tournament of the American Chamber of Commerce in Uganda.
Phuti Sepuru
South Africa
Vice President Southern Region
Phuti Sepuru completed her Bachelor, Master, and Doctor of Music degrees at the University of Pretoria. She is now a Lecturer in Musicology at the Department of Art and Music, University of South Africa (UNISA). Sepuru is the Vice-President (Southern region) of PASMAE and a Board Member of the South African Association for Jazz Education (SAJE). She has attended the PASMAE conferences in the Seychelles and Ghana, where she most recently presented a paper entitled “‘Tales from the South’: Exploring musical identities and South Africanness in jazz pianism”. Professionally, she is very active as a versatile session musician who has worked with many artists and projects. These include: Winnie Mandela Tribute Concerts (Tshepo Tshola, Judith Sephuma, Siphokazi, Zahara, Simphiwe Dana, Dr Tumi, Ringo Madlingozi and the Bala Brothers); Women in Song Legacy Tour (Abigail Kubeka, Dorothy Masuka, Mabongi and Deborah Fraser); Candy Tsamandebele, Concord Nkabinde, and Simphiwe Dana. More recently, she joined the “Nelson Mandela: The Song Lives On” project as pianist and backing vocalist.
Mellitus Nyongesa Wanyama
Kenya
Vice President Eastern Region
Mellitus Nyongesa Wanyama is currently a Professor of Music (Ethnomusicology and Musicology) at Kabarak University, Nakuru, Kenya, where he has served as the Founding Dean, School of Music and Performing Arts, since August 2015. Prior to moving to Kabarak University, he taught, for over 10 years, Music and Dance at Moi University. He was the Founder of Music Studies at Moi University. He is a music educator, composer, arranger, choral trainer, choreographer and adjudicator of music and dance. He is the Founder and Executive Director of Utafiti Foundation Publishers.
Susan Brümmer
South Africa
Operations Manager
Susan Brümmer is a well-known music teacher in various areas of South Africa. She has worked at both government and private schools, and at all levels from pre-primary through to high school. She has taught class music, different instruments (piano, keyboard, singing, recorder, marimbas) and theory to both individual students and groups.
Having conducted many choirs, Susan has also adjudicated Art Festivals, Eisteddfodau, Revues and singing competitions. She and a colleague presented practical music classes to fellow musicians at the 2019 PASMAE Conference in Seychelles, and with colleagues from America, Australia, Finland and South Africa presented at the ‘Orff Africa 50th Celebrations’ in August 2022.
Susan is a member of the South African Society of Music Teachers committee, and in that way also supports PASMAE and ISME. But despite activities at such levels, she states unequivocally: “My biggest passion is sharing my love of music with children”.
PASMAE Honorary Members
PASMAE is pleased to have awarded honorary memberships to the following:
- Caroline van Niekerk (2015). Honorary Life Member
- Meki Nzewi (2015). Honorary Life Member
- Judy Thonell (2017). Honorary President
- Benon Kigozi (2021). Honorary President
- Dawn Joseph (2023) Honorary Life Member
- Zenda Nel (2023) Honorary Life Member
