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Tafadzwa Zimoyo
Senior Arts Reporter
Mbira player and singer Hope Masike has described her recent visit and performance in Costa Rica as fruitful, saying she learnt the importance of music and cultural aspects in a society.

Masike performed at the just-ended “International Day of People of African Descent” launch celebrations which ran from August 31 to September 4, where she shared the stage with marimba virtuoso, Abel Mafuleni, American group Playing For Change, Ghanaian Grammy nominated Rocky Dawuni, The Kawe Group, Afro Fietsa, Emanuel Manu Ntaka and The Limón Concert Band.

Costa Rica became the first country to host the celebrations after the commemoration of the International Day of People of African Descent was formally adopted by the United Nations in 2020.

The holiday, as stated by the UN, promotes “the extraordinary contributions of the African Diaspora around the world and seeks to eliminate all forms of discrimination against people of African descent’’.

The celebrations began with the opening ceremony that was held at the National Theatre of Costa Rica in the capital, San Jose where the Vice President of Costa Rica Epsy Campbell Barr, the Ghanaian King of the Akwamu Kingdom, Odeneho Kwafo Akoto III, the regional director of UNFPA Latin America and the Caribbean Mr Harold Robinson and other dignitaries were in attendance.

In an interview with The Herald Arts, Masike said the festival was a learning curve.

“When we are promoting a virtue such as respecting equality and the full recognition of everyone’s rights, what better way to spread the message than through this universal language — music,” she said.

“I am extremely elated to be part of such an important event. I was in Costa Rica for five days and I managed to meet some of the powerful dignitaries’ in the foreign land.”

Asked how she was selected to take part in the celebrations, Masike said it was through a friend who referred her to the organisers.

“I was recommended by Costa Rican-based Zimbabwean and pan-Africanist, Daves Guzha, who saw and thought it befitting to have a versatile Zimbabwean mbira player like me to perform,” she said.

“From my understanding and manner of playing mbira, I was expected to bring out a different feel and genre in the art show. It is not just the entertainment quality of the instrument, but a spirituality which is critical for such a human pathways event.”

Masike said at the opening concert, participants were tasked to perform traditional classic contemporary.

“On the opening concert we performed the traditional classic ‘Zvichapera’. It’s lyrical as well as it summarises the bases and mandate of these celebrations, an advocacy for the recognition of people of African descent with all their contributions to humanity thus far and equality for all,” she said.

“On the closing show, we added “Bangiza” on marimba, “Todzungaira/Hondo” on mbira and “Ndinewe”.” Masike said despite the Covid-19 pandemic that has affected the arts industry, life was slowly normalising in Costa Rica in the entertainment sector.

“Life is slowly normalising in Costa Rica, same as in all other places in the world,” she said. “People are masking up and practicing social distancing as much as they can. Our first performance for the opening of this event was held in a beautiful ancient theatre (built in 1897) called National Theatre of Costa Rica.

“The audience was required to wear   masks, even for the vaccinated. They also set a good distance apart and they were being hand sanitised. The same went for us, the performers. We only removed our masks when on stage.

“To my knowledge, the Costa Rican government redirected all the funds that were supposed to be used for festivals and such towards the welfare of its artists. They also prioritised their artists for all local gigs during this period, hence our presence at this auspicious event was made possible by the UNFPA Latin America.”