Picture by Pamberi Trust                                                                                                

 

FREEDOM TO CREATE is what the sisters will be calling for this Saturday 17 April as SISTAZ OPEN MIC joins the rest of Zimbabwe in commemorating thirty years of independence.  Sistaz Open Mic continues at The Book Cafe with a more creative, expressive and colourful line-up of both emerging and established women artists through music, poetry and dance, from 2-5pm.

 

More than just a come-hang-out-feel-good-and-forget-your-strife kind of space, Sistaz Open Mic is a developmental platform that supports artistic expression in its raw form, nurtures talent across all ages and claims a space for emerging women artists to come out to a public stage and do their ‘thang’ in the safety of daytime.  All women artists, young and old are invited to come together on this unique platform to celebrate their freedom to create - and freedom to express themselves artistically.

 

FLAME (Female Literary Arts & Music Enterprise), Pamberi Trust’s gender project, exists to facilitate the participation of women in the arts, providing various platforms for expression through discussion forums, workshops and stage performances.  Over the past three years 26 workshops have been held, for both established and emerging female artists, and a number of participants from these programmes are now being acknowledged as gifted performers and moving on to other platforms.

             

Over twenty diverse acts are expected to take to The Book Café stage on Saturday 17, including hip-hop lyricist Theresa “Misfit” Mungazi, a sprinkling of professional women artists who support the programme, and ‘Inkanyezi’ a group of young girls who have already performed at Sistaz Open Mic several times in the last 2 years, and are leading the way for the next generation of women artists.  ‘Inkanyezi’ will be dishing out some of their traditional rhythms and original compositions from the upcoming debut 12-track album ‘Kwasunama/Brewing’ which will be proudly launched on 20 April with support from FLAME. 

 

Immediately following Sistaz Open Mic at 5.30 pm will be ‘SO WHAT?’ with a colourful repertoire of ‘afro traditionals’ including classic oldies and brand new originals, featuring up & coming women artists Edith Katiji (bass/vo), Fatima Katiji (vo), Tariro Ruzvidzo (guitar), Rumbie Tapfuma (percussion), backed by Ishe Jere (keyb), Tatenda Kanjatu (drums), Hudson Simbarashe (guitar).

 

There is a friendly cover charge of US$1.00, and a warm invitation to relax and ‘chill out’ for the enjoyment of a great line-up.

 

Performers should register with Tatenda at The Book Café before the show starts at 2pm.