Stage Name: Reich aka Gaptoothbandit

Rachel Kwainona, known by her stage names Reich, Gaptoothbandit, or Black Avenue, is a talented singer-songwriter. She is also a feminist, paint artist, art director, digital content creator, YALI RLC Alumni, and a WHO Mental Health Quality Rights Advocate. Rachel is the founder of Loudsilence organization, which focuses on mental health and SGBV awareness among young women and girls in Zimbabwe.

Rachel’s musical journey began at the age of 10 when she started singing at talent shows in Zimbabwe, such as StarKidz. Her talent led her to the Starbrite bootcamp, where she performed and made a lasting impression. She also participated in the Allied Arts competition during high school, winning first place for two consecutive years as a solo artist in the solo ensemble category.

In 2012, Rachel recorded her first song called “Incredible, All Night Long” featuring George while still in high school. Later, in 2019, she released visuals for her single titled “Hey Mr,” which is currently played on Zifm and Capitalkfm radio stations. Rachel continued to work on her music and released various singles over the past three years on her YouTube channel. In 2022, she released her EP album titled “Roses” along with captivating visuals.

Aside from her musical endeavors, Rachel is a graduate of the University of Zimbabwe, holding an undergraduate degree in Bachelor of Arts Honors and a postgraduate diploma in media and communications studies. She has also studied Chinese language and culture, earning certifications from Renmin University in Beijing and Liaoning University in Shenyang. Rachel completed her masters in multimedia design production systems at the University of Zimbabwe.

Throughout her career, Rachel has served as a journalist at the media organization called 263chat and worked as a media and communications officer for an arts organization in Harare. She has made significant contributions as an art director, including conducting art direction and painting two murals in Mbare at I am Mbare and Hopely.