This Saturday 10 July at The Book Cafe from 2-5p.m, women dancers, musicians, poets gather at the SISTAZ OPEN MIC platform to celebrate the spirit of UBUNTU.  “We think of ourselves far too frequently as just individuals, separated from one another, whereas you are connected and what you do affects the whole world”, said South African activist Bishop Desmond Tutu. “When you do well, it spreads out; it is for the whole of humanity”. 

Pamberi Trust’s gender officer Batsirai Chigama, who coordinates Sistaz Open Mic under the FLAME (Female Literary Arts & Music Enterprise) project, said “Artists have a role to play in society, being the mirrors and gatekeepers of the moral fabric that holds us together as a people.  Sisters performing at the open mic this July are being invited to carry the message of Ubuntu, and by so doing to show that art knows no race, nor tribe, it embraces all as one”.

As well as being a ‘come-hang-out-feel-good-and-forget-your-strife’ kind of space, Sistaz Open Mic is a developmental platform that nurtures talent across all ages and tries to harness and support artistic expression in its raw form - a platform for emerging women artists to come out to a public stage and do their ‘thang’ in the safety of daytime. 

 

On Saturday 10 July, Sistaz Open Mic welcomes poet and photographer Linda ‘Poetic Angel’ Gabriel back home from South Africa.  In 2007 Linda worked under the FLAME project and helped to establish the Sistaz Open Mic where she also performed, building it from a brand new concept into a popular monthly event, before leaving for South Africa two years ago to study photojournalism.  During her time in South Africa, she performed in different poetry productions with well-known poets like Antonio Lyons and Myesha Jenkins (USA), and Phillipa Yaa de Villiers and Lebo Mashile (SA) to mention a few.  She also worked with African Synergy this year to replicate the Sistaz Open Mic in Johannesburg.

 

Another promising young vocalist who came to Sistaz Open Mic late last year, E.V.E. Kawadza will be featured at the open mic.  Still in the early stages of finding her own style and space, E.V.E. is moving forward strongly, and Sistaz Open Mic is proud to be involved in the development of such progressive young artists.

 

Now in its third year, Sistaz Open Mic continues to witness the growth of women artists, some moving strongly into independent professional careers, daring to make a place for themselves in music, dance and poetry circles of Zimbabwe.  One such musician is Clare Nyakujara who recently launched her debut album, “Haudi Nei.”  Clare has held several shows in the city and has grown from strength to strength. To put the cherry on the cake, Clare performs promptly after Sistaz Open Mic, 5:30-7pm backed by The Other Four.

 

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, and performers should register at The Book Café before the show starts at 2pm.