Loveness Wesa dates Mtukudzi, Mapfumo

Entertainment
UNITED States-based songstress Loveness Wesa lived her dream when she shared the stage with Oliver Mtukudzi in Portland, Oregon, US, yesterday.

UNITED  States-based songstress Loveness Wesa lived her dream when she shared the stage with Oliver Mtukudzi in Portland, Oregon, US, yesterday.

Entertainment Reporter

Wesa, opened the show at the Star Theatre with her own songs and dances inspired by Southern Africa. Another Zimbabwean legend Thomas Mapfumo was also part of the cast according to the website, Willamete Week.

Hours before the show Wesa took to Facebook, promising her fans fireworks.

“Many hearts are going to be healed from Oliver Mutukudzi and my music,” she wrote.   “So around this hour Portland will be vibrating at the Star Theatre downtown.

“Be ready to shake everything God gave you. Remember it’s ok to just shake your ear if that’s all you feel like doing.

“We won’t charge you extra for not shaking everything. That’s just a tiny bit of the beginning of the whole party  for now.”

Wesa, who started her career as a dancer, choreographer, actress, singer and producer at Amakhosi Theatre in Bulawayo moved to the US in December 2002.

According to her biography on her official website, the versatile artiste was first exposed to the traditional music and dance as a small child watching her mother, aunt, and grandmother, who were sangomas channel ancestral spirits.

She recorded and released three albums of original compositions by her.

Tovera (2001) is a collection of music inspired by traditional songs, and Brooms (2002) includes her renditions of songs from her dance play, and in 2005, Wesa returned home to record and produce her latest album, Mukadzi WaMambo.

These albums include songs in Shona, Ndebele, Venda, Sotho, and English.

Her sound merges ancient traditions with a modern twist and is adapted to both traditional and contemporary instruments. Wesa is backed by  band — The Bantus

Listen closely and you’ll hear the influences of musical legends including Miriam Makeba and Harry Belafonte.