ELIE KIHONIA is the founder of Afrika Yetu and co-founder of UMOJA African Arts Company. He was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

He began performing at age nine with various youth choirs and in 1980 joined the international GEVAKIN Choir/The Musical Bridge. As a multi-instrumentalist who plays both African percussion and contemporary instruments, his expertise includes the xylophone, mbira, hand and set drums, keyboard, accordion and guitars.

Seeing the need to introduce and promote Africa’s rich and diverse history, culture, and traditions through song and dance, Elie co-founded UMOJA African Arts Company.

Elie has been associated with the DRC’s Ministry of Culture and Arts, as its international Director of Production. He served as an artist consultant for the Museum of African Art in New York, The Carnegie Museums in Pittsburgh, The Smithsonian Institution, Carnegie Mellon University, The University of Pittsburgh, La Roche College and Natal University of Durban, South Africa.

Elie is currently conducting healing drum workshops with various health and AIDS-related organizations such as the Mercy Behavioral Health Center, Persad, Pittsburgh AIDS Task force, Citiparks/Senior Citizens, and the Marimba House in South Africa.

In 2002, Mr. Kihonia made history in Salvador/Bahia, Brazil leading and participating with his group of 10 percussionists from various African countries, who led a parade of 600 Brazilian percussionists in the first African Carnival ever done in Brazil.