Music
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Gospel musicians seminar set for end of October
In light of the many challenges faced by gospel musicians today, Zingoma Gospel Hub, a social media grouping of gospel artists will be holding a free Gospel Musicians Seminar to address some of the concerns. The seminar is scheduled for 28 October 2017 at Courtney Hotel, Harare, from 9.00am to 4.00pm. Running under the theme…
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Taking “Ndisiye” to the world
By Patricia Mashiri An award winning gospel Zimbabwean male artist Tatenda Mahachi has released a brand new song featuring the legend Dr Oliver ‘Tuku’ Mtukudzi titled “Ndisiye” meaning leave me alone. The theme of the song is a direct command to the devil to leave people alone as it comes to destroy, steal and kill.…
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Moffat and Rhodes are Dead Gentlemen
The Zimbabwe Heritage Trust (ZHT) held a crash course in consciousness-raising for a group of musicians that expectedly and beautifully crashed. Who still has the temerity and sanity to craft colonial linkages to the current mess Zimbabwe is caught in? As one audience member said, the more we continue refusing responsibility for the current mess…
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First Farai gets first set of instruments
By Lovemore Chazingwa CHEGUTU EAST member of the House of Assembly (MP) Hon Webster Shamu promised to avail music instruments for sungura music exponent First Farai at the latter’s birthday that was held at the now popular music incubation spot City Sports Bar (CSB) in the capital. The perseverant artist who has been in the industry…
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Music artist appeals for financial support
By Patricia Mashiri A controversial young Zimdancehall upcoming artist who goes by the name Tifa real name Tafadzwa Mufanebadza is pleading to Zimbabweans to support local musicians to grow their careers at home and internationally. Despite starting music at a tender age, Tifa has managed to set the scene ablaze with a series of singles…
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Dzimbabwe mbira crew in scintillating performance
By Lovemore Chazingwa MBIRA music ensemble Dzimbahwe Mbira Crew produced one of their best performances when they launched the album ‘Usasora Mabiyako’ at City Sports Bar on recently. The album is their fourth in a career spanning almost two decades. With half a dozen compositions, this album was launched amid the pomp and fun-fare resonant…
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Dangerous Shumba to change Zimdancehall music landscape
By Lovemore Chadzingwa THE ZIMDANCEHALL music landscape is set to experience another explosive input from the introduction of Mbare based young artist, Dangerous Shumba who is doing waves in the bustling high density suburb with his hit song ‘Nyoka Mugumbeze’ off the same-titled album that is to be released soon, this publication has established. The…
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The DSTV Mzanzi Viewers’ Choice Awards make SA entertainment history
The people have spoken! History was officially made last night at the inaugural DStv Mzansi Viewers’ Choice Awards. Over 1 million votes were cast for 50 nominees in 10 categories, as South Africa made her voice heard. The glittering gala evening was the culmination of a legendary battle worthy of Mzansi’s entertainment history, as fans…
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Book Café brings variety to New Ambassador
By Kundai Marunya Pop-up Book Café has given a breath of life into the usually quiet New Ambassador Hotel with their regular shows that has seen revered artists rocking the hotel’s rooftop stage. After its closure due to financial hardships, proprietor, Tomas Brickhill has vowed to keep the top arts brand functional, a legacy he…
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Meet ZIMA nominee: Mzoe 7
Mzoe 7 Rising contemporary musician, Mzoe 7 is raveling in glory after his second Zimbabwe Music Award (ZIMA) nomination for Best Single. His song I Cry Too, a heart-catching tune, well written with a quality production is up against Janet Manyowa’s Ndomira Pamuri, Roki and XQs Thank God It’s A Friday, Netso featuring Squash’s Ngalangala,…
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SA based reggae artist releases album
Written By Kundai Marunya Finally; Zimbabwe has found a mature sound that can compete on the global reggae platform; a music that can compete with the founding island of Jamaica for an ever growing market. The vibes of South African based reggae artist Rutsman Spice (real name Solomon Tokwe) from his hot new album titled…
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Yocaf preparations on advanced stage
By Kundai Marunya Countdown to one of the biggest youth festivals in Zimbabwe, the Youth Cultural Arts Festival (YOCAF) has begun with Masvingo residents waiting in anticipation of great performances. The showcase set to be held from July 30 to August 1, in the Ancient City has the whole of the province anxiously waiting for…
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Mokoomba leaves for SA
By Kundai Marunya Widely traveled afro fusion group Mokoomba departed for South Africa to perform at the Nuworld Festival in Capetown tomorrow. Hot on the heels from a tour of Zambia where they mesmerized their Livingston fans at the Earth Festival, the group will perform at the festival’s mainstage, the same stage that will host…
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Mokoomba introduces new set, bids Harare farewell
By Kundai Marunya High flying afro fusion group Mokoomba set alight Alliance Francaise with new songs from their upcoming album. The group which was in the studio a couple of months ago gave a taste of what to look forward to from their third album scheduled for released later in the year. First up was…
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Burna Boy takes a swing at Buffalo Souljah
By Kudzayi Zvinavashe Nigerian chanter Burna Boy(23) who gave a sterling performance at Pabloz, the newly opened joint in Borrowdale left journalists stunned after he professed oblivion of who Buffalo Souljah was. Buffalo Souljah is a multi-award winning South African based dancehall artist who has for years dominated the continent in his genre. He is…
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Exciting new features at Victoria Falls Carnival
By Kundai Marunya Preparations for the fourth Victoria Falls Carnival are underway with organizers unveiling the new festival format last week. The carnival which runs every year from December 29 into the New Year, will this year have an increased capacity of up to 1500 people for its famous Train Party event among other improvements…
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Roberta Wagner bids farewell to ZGS
By Kundai Marunya Former Zimbabwe Germany Society director Roberta Wagner has finally left the organization after having handed over the position to Taremeredzwa Chirewa in October last year. Wagner who then took over an advisoral role to the young director as she learnt the ropes for the past eight months is not going to retire…
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Mtukudzi at it again
By Spiked Lifestyle After flying the nation’s flag high several times, Selmour Mtukudzi has done it once more joining hands with other female superstars in Africa penning a song titled Strong Girl, an initiative of an international organisation called ONE. The track features 9 African female superstars who affirm the position of a girl child…
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The Other Side of Zvekupenga Trio
By Kudzayi Zvinavashe Fairytales and fantasies usually have a tragic end, same with love and the proverbial “Match Made in heaven”. While the First son in law Simba Chikore and wife Bona Mugabe’s marriage remains shrouded in secrecy and the public has been left to ponder if it is the phantasmagorical, that has not been…
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Zim Talent Hunt Launches arts training initiative
By Spiked Lifestyle Poet Albert Nyathi has hailed Zim Talent Hunt for their new arts training initiative launched last weekend in Harare. The inaugural seminar held at Parkview Restaurant in the capital was well attended with the Zimbabwe College of Music tutor Walter Mujuru providing insight on how to compose a song as well as…
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3rd Let Them Festival dates announced
By Kundai Marunya The third annual Let Them Festival will this year be held on 24 and 25 July at the Harare Showgrounds Fun Park area. The festival meant to celebrate and inspire creativity in children will feature an exciting lineup of theatre, dance and music. The Let Them Trust and festival director Chido Musasiwa…
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Monkey Nuts, Tehn Diamond set for Mashoko
By Kundai Marunya Armed with a new album which was officially released during the Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA), high-riding hip hop outfit The Monkey Nuts will grace the Mashoko Spoken Word and Hip Hop mini-festival this Saturday at Book Cafe. The group which often has the advantage of playing live instruments over…
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Mokoomba to set alight Misty’s enroute to Miombo Magic
By Kundai Marunya Widely travelled afro-fusion group Mokoomba will this Friday make a return to Misty’s after a heart-catching performance last month. The show will also serve as a warm up performance as the group is scheduled for a magical date with music lovers at the Miombo Magic Festival in Christon Bank the following day.…
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NACZ clarifies on Grants, NAMA
Art is often seen as a window to better understanding of humans and their values. In many cases it is seen as the gateway to socio economic development. Though, government has acknowledged the importance of arts and culture by forming the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ), art funding has largely remained in the hands…
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True Vibenation relishes HIFA experience
Kundai Marunya Most people visiting Zimbabwe for the first time after over a decade of economic meltdown and political chaos come bearing this negative image of a nation of barbarism, widely underdeveloped, a notion often pushed forward by biased media reports. The same counts for artists staging in the country for the first time, and…
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Beteanberg on xenophobia
Celebrated South African group, Beatenberg has denounced xenophobia as a barbaric act by uncivilized South Africans. This comes at a time when Zimbabwean locals have threatened a boycott on South African acts at the festival. In an interview at the ongoing Harare International festival of the Arts (HIFA) the group said they represent a united…
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Pee Kay urges record labels to embrace new ideas
Rapper, Pee Kay (real name Patrick Kahari) has encouraged record companies and musicians to embrace new marketing methods instead of crying over piracy. The musician who is well known from his yesteryear hit Ma1 which features Peace Ndlovu a.k.a BaShupi said piracy is positive. “The only negative of piracy is to those stuck in old…
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Smart phones for NAMA winners
Accolade winners for the 14th National Arts and Merit Awards (NAMA) which were held at Rainbow 7 Arts Theatre in February will receive additional prices at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) in Bulawayo. The winners who were not well rewarded for coming victors on the national award platform due to lack of sponsorship will…
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Monkey Nuts album launch at HIFA
The Monkey Nuts, Hip Hop alternative 3 member band is billed to launch their forth coming album titled Boom Bap Idiophonics at the Harare International Festival of Arts (HIFA) at the Hivos Poetry Lab on the 1st of May. Boom Bap Idiophonic, the 8 track album features other artists from different walks of life as…
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Aussie, Zimbo group set for HIFA
Three-man group consisting of Harare born twins and a New Zealand national is set to light up the Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA) with a fusion of hip hop and other traditional and contemporary music influences. The trio, True Vibenation which is made up of Australian based twins Verbaleyes and Native Wit and…
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Tuku speaks against Xenophobia
Superstar Oliver ‘Tuku’ Mtukudzi has castigated the xenophobic violence that has spread across South Africa claiming at least seven lives. Several thousands of foreign nationals, Zimbabweans among them have been displaced from their homes to find shelter at camps set up across South Africa in fear for their lives. In a media release, Tuku said…
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The rise of reggae music a gateway to drug abuse
Following Bob Marley’s inaugural visit to Harare in 1980 when he performed at the independence celebrations at National Sports Stadium, reggae music has slowly grown to be a greater part of our city’s culture, some may argue that he sow a seed of reggae music culture following how the majority has grown to love the…