HOPE MASIKE neKAKUWE:

Farewell show before Netherlands UBUNTU Festival

The Book Café, Tue 16/6, 8pm, cc

Hope Masike and the band Kakuwe will give their farewell show on Tues 16 July, before Hope and Theresa leave for a month-long engagement of performances and workshops at the UBUNTU Festival in the city of Goes in the Royal Netherlands. 

Hope is also involved with the cultural exchange programme ‘Umoja’ encompassing Norway, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Kenya, Tanzania and Ethiopia.  She performed vocals, mbira and dance with Umoja in Zimbabwe, Norway and Mozambique, where she saw that “…culture is very important; when you learn about the cultures of others, you realise your own is very, very special” she said.

Hope has risen swiftly in the last year since she took over Book Café’s special Tuesday mbira slot from Chiwoniso Maraire.  Her music is unique – a modern twist on a traditional style.  As a special send-off, tonight’s performance welcomes guest artists Prudence Katomene-Mbofana (vo), Philip Svosve on saxophone, and Tadziripa Madzima on flute. 

RINA MUSHONGA AND THE ZIMFELLAS

THE BOOK CAFÉ, FIFE AVE MALL, HARARE   

THU 18/6, 5.30pm, CC

On THURSDAY 18 JUNE from 5.30pm, The Book Café, Harare, extends a warm welcomes Rina Mushonga and the Mutare-based Zimfellas for an early evening expose of a unique collaboration of Zimbabwean artists.

Dutch-Zimbabwean singer songwriter Rina Mushonga returned to Zimbabwe late 2008 for two reasons…to explore and connect with her musical heritage and to further immerse herself in the Zimbabwean cultural scene.  What she found was a group of talented young musicians carving their own niche in the local scene and equally searching for new musical horizons. 

Fusing together their different musical experiences, Rina’s residing mainly in folk pop and the Zimfella’s cool brand of traditional Zimbabwean music, they have managed to find common ground and create an altogether vibrant new sound.  Their quest to collectively write catchy, sensitive and relevant music reflecting the worlds they come from and indeed the future they hope for has been greatly successful and has produced music that delights in the beauty and strength of Zimbabwe as well as seeking to put traditional music in a new jacket. 

KESSIA! at The Book Café

Sat 20/6, 2-5pm, cc

A long-time performer from childhood days, the natural entertainer within Kessia Magosha is still bubbling over, and one of her charms is the sheer joy she expresses on stage.  A gifted singer, lively dancer and great all round entertainer, Kessia delivers a wide range of vocals, styles and influences of her life with a diverse repertoire including reggae, rock, funk and afropop covers, scattered with traditional folk songs after the ‘ngano’ tradition, and a number of original compositions which have yet to reach the studio.

On Saturday 20 June, Kessia is backed by long-time music partners including Stan Magosha on guitar, and a great big mixing pot of lively, fun, explosive action and a wide variety of world music can be expected! 

The Saturday afternoon slot at The Book Café is a special space for women to come out in the safety of daytime, and kids are welcome!

THANDA& DA IMANI TRODDAS

SAT 20, 5.30pm, cc

Open your heart to the Thunder of Thanda - Reggae Afro-fusion with energy and passion: FIRE BURN! 

A powerful and fast-rising singer-songwriter with her own unique sound and style, Thanda delivers high-energy entertainment, lending her excellent vocal range and skills to the genre, coming up strong!  Also traveling this month to the Netherlands, this will be her lost show in a while, so don’t miss it.