BOOK CAFÉ – EVENTS 24 MAY– 02 JUNE

Thu 24, 8pm, BA SHUPI energetic young showman bursting out in Harare recently, back to back with MUNYA MATARUSE, hot and fresh from Pakare Paye!

Fri 25, Africa Day! 9pm, HOPE MASIKE ‘KAKUWE’ and PRUDENCE KATOMENI-MBOFANA -

African women celebrate with a lively collaboration between two of Zimbabwe’s gifted singer/songwriters, an adventurous jazz-mbira crossover and special old favourites from Africa’s older sisters in music.

Sat 26, 2-5pm, ‘MUSIC FACTORY’, the Cream of the Open Mic, the freshest talent on Harare’s stage. Are there new superstars in the making?  See who’s coming up to the mark and lining up for the top! This week: LAGGARDS & THE SHUZ

Sat 26, 5.30-7pm, NORMAN MASAMBA & POINT BLANK – a big melting pot of afro styles, based on trad.Zim, and pasada (Moz) rhythms.

Sat 26, 9pm, TRANSIT CREW Roots Rock Reggae veterans delighting reggae-lovers for years, nurturing new talent with reggae singer 'Sello Kalcha', and supported tonight by the dynamic empress EYAHRA.

Mon 28, 6-9pm, BOOK CAFÉ OPEN MIC, Music, dance, poetry, comedy – whatever your passion, come jam!  Harare's longest-running platform for young artists; great new acts and many surprises - cc$2.  All artists welcome!  Register with MC before 6pm.

Tue 29, 8pm, SIMUKA COMEDY – The official Zimbabwean Stand-up Comedy Night, featuring Michael K, Uncle Sam, Simba the Comic King, Q The Boss, Carl Joshua Ncube & Doc Vikela – Laugh ‘til it hurts!  $5

Wed 30, 5.30pm, FREE FILM SCREENING: SHOKO Documentary Film Launch – Magamba presents SHOKO, a documentary on the 2011 Shoko Spoken Word & Hiphop Festival, filmed by Nomadic Wax - FREE, ALL WELCOME!

Wed 30, 8pm MICINITY - Weddy Wednesday to lovaz rock reggae with Mic and the Hotta Fyah band, with support act  Dadza D – and a hot act to follow!

Thu 31, 8pm, Japan’s explosive high-energy ‘SAKAKI MANGO & THE LIMBA TRAIN SOUND SYSTEM’ –stopping over in Harare before moving on to Maputo and Johannesburg. Multi-instrumentalist SAKAKI MANGO - Japan’s greatest living ‘world music’ exponent, with ‘a cross-breed of African sounds with Japanese effects and mixes, and lyrics in both Japanese and Swahili’ In the usual Book Cafe tradition, some of Zimbabwe’s HOT UP&COMING artists will open the stage for the visiting band.

PLUS - A World Menu for World Music: To complement the colourful artistry of a great world-music performance, the Book Cafe presents a flavourful 3-course dinner special at $20 which includes cover charge for the show, and a choice of Chicken Livers or Peppered Fish, Pesce Al Forno or Petti di Pollo al Forno and a chocolate cake + ice cream dessert.  Advance bookings are essential, on 086 440 666 22. 

Fri 01 JUNE, 9pm, NYAMASVISVA neMAWUNGIRA ENHARIRA + MBIRA DZENHARIRA – Clash of The Big Ones: a mesmerizing mbira performance with dance and drumming in the true tradition from leading gwenyambiras of Zimbabwe

Sat 02, 2-5pm, HOUSE OF HUNGER POETRY SLAM – Zimbabwe’s premier poetry platform featuring hot young poets and welcoming guest PHOMOLO “FLEX” SEKAMOTHO.  Slam theme for June: THINK GREEN!

Sat 02, 5.30pm, DONALD KANYUCHI + THE RAIN SHADOW – a rich afro mix with harmonica and ngororombe, and amazing guitar skills!  Rising out of Pakare Paye and the Bocapa Xposure programme, fresh on the Book Café stage.

Sat 02, 9pm, MANNEX MTOSI & MO FAMILEE, with ‘J FARAI’ and ‘CALABASH’ – Reggae night with great originals from some of Zimbabwe’s new reggae ensembles