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Diana Samkange

Brenda Phiri Entertainment Reporter
As part of a rebranding exercise afro-fusion diva Diana Samkange will tonight assume a new stage name. The “Magumo Erudo” singer will make the “transformation” at a launch party dubbed “Diana Samkange the Past, MaNgwenya the Future” that will be held at the Book Café. She will become known as MaNgwenya thereafter.

Speaking on the development, the musicians’ management said the change had been necessitated by Samkange’s maturity as an artiste.

“Diana will be changing her name to MaNgwenya, which is also her totem. It best describes her as the artiste she has grown to be. The nation is to look forward to the very best from her in live performance on this night as well as new material. This (launch) is one not to miss as she has been working very hard to have a massive introduction of MaNgwenya, The Future,” the management noted in a statement.

The launch will see Diana performing a mixed bag of her songs that she has done in the past as well as others from her current album.

A former urban grooves princess, the songstress made a formal transition to afro-fusion music. She rebranded and added the mbira instrument to her music.

According to the management, the move does not depict “confusion” or an identity crisis on the part of the artiste as it is a reflection of different stages in her music.

“Her urban grooves days were a time in her life when she had just started her musical journey. She, however, matured and realised her songs were for the mature as well. By rebranding to afro-jazz Diana was able to associate her music with the mature. Her experiences and growth have also driven her to brand again to MaNgwenya. She has evolved a lot more now and those who will attend the launch will experience it first hand,” said her manager.

Diana is currently working on her third album due for release early next year.