Bicycle Thief movie launch (Isela Lebhayisikili) PUNDITS are salivating at the prospect of viewing this local production. Could this be the start of Zollywood this southern side? This movie shot in Mosi oa Tunya will be premiered at the Bulawayo Theatre and will be hosted by young comic Clive Chigubu who is set to turn on the funny side as the movie premiere’s host.
There will be a question and answer with the cast and crew of the Julian Tshuma-directed movie. Starting time is 4.00pm on August 8 2014. One hopes that local arts lovers will not find it to be a tall order to fork out $5 in advance or $7 at the gate.
When Tariro neGitare came to town On a chilly Wednesday night two weeks ago, a sizable crowd turned out for the Hunnar Management Agency’s fundraising gig to enable local fashion designers to attend the African Fashion Week in Canada. The gig was held at the Rainbow Elite 200.
Harare-based musician Tariro Ruzvidzo churned out a well received performance. Down to earth as ever, Tariro graciously engaged with members of the public jostling for photo ops while interestingly some gave the musician advice on how to “improve” her music!
Two cents on fledgling gospel choir Vocal EX The job of the media is not to give free publicity to musicians. We all have to earn our stripes. Firstly, let me say that Vocal Ex, though well intentioned, is not yet a wildly popular group. They are yet to deliver hits to the public.
We expect them to earn their plaudits otherwise they are headed for a big fall. This is not our wish, but this comes from a realisation that when they held their concert last week, the large turnout may have been owing to the expectation of the audience to see Joyous Celebration members Siphumelele Mbambo and Mkhululi Bhebhe. At the risk of sounding ungracious, Vocal Ex needed these two artists to draw crowds.
Bhebhe, ever the totally committed singer he is, did not disappoint and many in the audience cried for an encore. The question that begs scrutiny is this: What in fact, does Vocal Ex offer by way of uniqueness, or as they call it in marketing, the unique selling point? I would say it is three elements, no, three singers: Maka Moyo’s voice, Chelsea, the girl who dances in stilettos (which though crowd pleasing is pretty risky business).
She might literally break a leg dancing as she does in sky high stilettos. The third element is the young De Luks. The boy has a mbira vibe that eerily evokes the traditional style of mbira dzechinyakare (ancestral mbira). But that stuff is borderline freaky.
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Given our missionary exposure, some of us have become too denatured from our tribal roots to easily imbibe any of that ethnic stuff. Apparently, there are those who would render this kind of thinking as being symptomatic of a colonial hangover! Bring on the more “sanitised” Beethovens or the Mozarts anytime?
Squander not! Ultimately, to my mind, Vocal Ex runs the risk of squandering public good will which they do not really have in large dollops. Crowds are notoriously fickle.
Today they cheer you, tomorrow they boo you if you won’t willingly “dismount” from the high horse or volitionally “lose” the superstar “thing”. Booing, though brief, did occur at the Large City Hall two weeks ago. Church folk are after all everyday people.
Something for nothing I also say to the youngsters: Go to the studio and record original material. By original I mean songs that have not been already popularised by Joyous Celebration! Remember too, that song writing is a craft and not everyone can do it.
But despair not. On the other hand, though having initially been inspired by Shower Power, Family Voices, another local young gospel outfit, have a recognisable brand of performance and are not in the wannabe category.
If Shower Power were to come to town, Family Voices would not have to close shop! Hey, opinions are like molar teeth, almost everyone have them.
Zimbabwe Music Awards invites artists to submit works About three days ago, Zimma opened the floodgates. From July 18 to August 8 artists may submit works for consideration for the music awards.
Forms are obtainable from all Zimpost offices as well as online from the organisation’s website. Entry requirements are artists’ biography, two passport-sized colour photos and three CDs among others. I wonder how many of our local artists will join the rush to be considered for the revived music awards.
If there is a time to critique the selection or adjudication process, it is now. I will say again that the Zimma crew has not been open about who it is that will judge the works of our musicians. It is not a good thing.
Young writers invited at the Bulawayo Public Library An organisation called Transcend Zimbabwe-African Young Writers in association with KoMaseko Ceramic Publishers and Bulawayo Public Library will host a workshop entitled “From writer to author” at the Bulawayo Public Library today from 8am to 12pm.The event is aimed at guiding writers on the “process of coming up with a manuscript, publishing and editing”. Local writer Njabulo Moyo is listed as one of the contact persons on 0773 269 824.
Umahlekisa Comedy Club Bulawayo 120 years commemorations Starting from 6pm till 8pm tonight in the Small City hall, comedy lovers will be treated to “home grown laughs” from Ntando Moyo as one of the headline acts alongside two-time Nama winner Simba The Comic King.
The other comics are Nomusa Nleya and Elando. Somehow Chigubu has been missing from Umahlekisa Comedy Club. Hopefully, Chigubu does not believe he is now too big for this platform. On the other hand, one hopes that the organiser Moyo is not “uncomfortable” with Chigubu’s show-stealing ways. Such is this business. It is the ego business. Have mercy !
John Legend: Thought of the week “I am not afraid to listen to someone else. The height of arrogance is to think that you can do everything on your own.
I feel like if you want to be a great creator you got to be a great collaborator” – Grammy award winning singer John Legend responding to United States broadcaster Angela Yee’s question about the making of his current hit album Love In The Future during The Breakfast Club on Power 105 radio station.
Incidentally the singer-songwriter is set to stage a show in Zimbabwe in November at the Harare International Conference Centre.
Local musicians have much to learn from this celebrated artiste who collaborates with US rapper/producer Kanye West on all his productions.
