LEGENDARY Bulawayo-based jazz outfit, the Cool Crooners, serenaded fans with their classic township jazz rhythms on Tuesday night during the Harare International Festival of the Arts (Hifa) 15th edition official opening show at the Telecel Main stage. WINSTONE ANTONIO OWN CORRESPONDENT
This was the Bhulugwe Lami hitmakers’ debut appearance at the fete, which confirmed their international status as township jazz maestros, after having proved their mettle across the globe in countries including France, the United States, Botswana and Tanzania.
The Cool Crooners’ melodies and vocal prowess as well as choreographed dance routines, thrilled audiences who screamed throughout the performance.
The group fuses Western rhythms with African beats, and use languages such as Ndebele, Zulu and Swahili in their songs.
Directed by multiple American award winners Brooke Ciardelli, the opening set also featured South African legendary music icon Steve Dyer, accomplished pianist Kyle Shepherd, and local artistes, among them, Oliver Mtukudzi, Amara Brown, Cynthia Mare and Adiona Maboreke.
The official opening show of the Zimbabwe’s premier arts event has already set the tone for the six-day long fete running until May 4 under the theme Switch On. Hifa’s head of media and community liaison, Tafadzwa Simba, said the opening show was deliberately structured in a way that promoted collaboration between local and international artistes.
“The opening show is always a spectacular occasion of the entire festival as it is the biggest premiere show. Hifa would like to thank all participating artistes and audiences who made the show a success,” he said.
Hifa has grown to be one of the major festivals recognised in Africa for its continued support to local artistes and a display of an array of cultural exhibitions.
