BULAWAYO-born songstress Berita Khumalo will be spreading her wings internationally this year to tour a number of African countries.
After being crowned “queen” of African Pop for her debut album Conquering Spirit at last year’s Metro FM Music Awards, Berita said interest in her music grew in Africa and beyond.
Speaking to the Dispatch this week, the Zimbabwean-born singer, who calls East London home, expressed excitement about her first tour, which kicks off in Malawi on Tuesday next week.
“I am heading out to Johannesburg tomorrow and will spend the weekend there, but the actual tour starts on Tuesday and I am very excited about it,” she said.
“The tour is basically about putting the brand Berita out there and marketing my music, so I will be enjoying interacting with different crowds during my performances and learning and teaching something new everywhere I go.
“I just want to go around and find inspiration, work with other established musicians and leave a mark.”
She will be travelling from Malawi to Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Senegal between now and May and is expected to jet off to the US and Canada later this year. The 22-year-old has just finished her studies towards a diploma in financial information systems at Walter Sisulu University.
She will graduate in May.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
The African tour has been supported financially by the Eastern Cape Provincial Arts and Culture Council. While on tour she will record some new material for her upcoming album, expected to drop later this year.
“I never really had time to do everything I wanted to do musically because I was studying full time, so now that I am free I grabbed every opportunity that came my way to get my music out there.”
Berita features music legends Hugh Masekela and Zimbabwe’s Oliver Mtukudzi on one song on the upcoming album and has done a collaboration with Senegal’s Carlou D.
“In Malawi I will be recording another song and I want it to have that Malawian feel, hence we are going there. We are still in the early stages of the album and I have done some recording in East London and Johannesburg.”
— Dispatch
