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Samba dancers will perform at Private Lounge

Immaculate Hove and Bornwise Mtonzi Arts Reporters—
A number of local and international acts are set to grace this year’s Harare International Carnival that began last weekend and is expected to run until October 31. Events have been lined up mostly during weekends as part of the carnival, with the popular street party set for October 10. There will also be a street party for ministers and Government officials that is expected to take place on September 25.

Then the famous Samba Night is slated for Private Lounge on October 7. The Harare Jazz Festival to be held on September 19 is part of the carnival and the Tuku and Friends Concert that takes place on October 9 has also been absorbed. Other events include Ragga-Socca Night, Congo Night and Carnival After-Party.

The carnival was officially launched at Town House last weekend and various performances took place to announce the beginning of the festivities.

This year’s carnival is running under the theme “Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow” and already has 30 companies and 30 schools that have registered to take part in addition to the various artistes that will grace various stages. The Harare International Carnival seeks to grow the tourism industry through cultural exchange and countries such as China, Nigeria, United States, UK, the DRC, Brazil, among others, are expected to participate.

Samba dancers are coming from Brazil while rhumba lovers will be treated to music by locally-based group Diamond Musica. They would be representing DRC their original home country. Diamond Musica settled in the country some years ago. The group took part at the launch event where it entertained guests.

The group’s leader Pitshou Lumiere said they would take part at various events during the festival. “Diamond Musica is going to be there because it is an established rhumba group in Southern Africa. We know how to entertain the crowd, we are good on stage and we have done songs the nation knows like ‘This is Good’, ‘Sinamakosa’, and ‘Amawulee’,” said Pitshou.

The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) will announce the time and venues for the group’s other shows in due course. Chipaz Promotions will close the carnival with an after-party bash, where they are expected to host Busy Signal from Jamaica, Jah Prayzah, Soul Jah Love, Killer T, Calaz and many more.