PRIDE OF READING: Zimbabwean musician helps shape cultural landscape

By Reading Today

UNITED KINGDOM: A musician from Zimbabwe, who has made his home in Reading where he uses music to “shape the cultural landscape”, has been nominated for the Welcome All award.

Tomson Chauke, who came to Reading in 2003, is the founder of afro-fusion band Limpopo Groove, which he launched “not only to entertain, but to integrate cultures and reach out to an international audience”, said his nominator.

He hosts the Berkshire Culture Connect show on B Radio which celebrates the diverse and inspiring individuals and organisations that make Berkshire a great place to live, they added.

“Tomson is great at attracting the people and projects that are shaping the cultural landscape of Berkshire. He gives them a platform for us all to hear about these individuals who share a passion for community-building and social change,” they said.

Thomson works with young people with autism at education charity Priors Court, helping them to learn music and giving them an opportunity to perform.

He collects musical instruments and ships them back to his hometown in Chiredzi, a small community in the Masvingo province of Zimbabwe, “to inspire young people from his community to learn and love music”.

Tomson started a football team for Reading refugees, “to help them feel connected to the town and part of something, to help them learn the language, the area and feel included,” said his nominator.

“This is just a snippet of his work. Tomson never stops finding ways to help people and he does it all with a smile on his face. He epitomises the Welcome All category and is truly, the Pride of Reading,” they said.

The Welcome All award, sponsored by Deloitte, recognises ‘diversity and inclusiveness’, in Reading, as a welcoming town to all and as City of Sanctuary for ten years. We are seeking nominations for businesses and organisations who are welcoming and supporting our towns diverse communities