Mankwe Ndosi is a Vocalist, Writer, Songmaker and Improviser focused on expanding vocabularies of song. She collaborates with musicians, dancers, MC's, and other artists of all kinds. She's had a 10 year music focus and works in the worlds of Creative Improvisation and Hip Hop with folk/blues/world/root music influences. She has been performing in the Twin Cities and in Chicago for more than a decade, including studio and live touring work nationally and internationally with Nicole Mitchell/Black Earth (Vision Festival, Sant’Anna Aressi Jazz Festival), Atmosphere (Lemons, and Paint It Gold Tours) and Douglas R. Ewart/Inventions. She is former Director of the CIA (Center for Independent Artists, Mpls, MN). She works with people of all ages in exploring and expanding their creative voices, and in valuing and unearthing their own stories. She has received foundation support from the American Composer's Forum/McKnight Foundation, The Jerome Foundation, and the Minnesota State Arts Board. She is currently working on a follow-up to her debut cd Do Gooder's Blues produced by Medium Zach of Big Quarters.