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Dino Mudondo

Peter Tanyanyiwa Arts Correspondent
The Pop-up Book Café programme at New Ambassador Hotel celebrated the life of the late Jamaican reggae legend Bob Marley with an exciting show on Saturday.

The event was also held in commemoration of the late Transit Crew guitarist Munya Nyemba and various musicians came together to celebrate the two artistes’ lives.

Transit Crew, Hotta Fyah Band, Chikwata 263, Dino Mudondo and House of Stone rocked the stage in honour of the two departed musicians. Members of Nyemba’s family that included Munya’s wife, mother and son Terry attended the commemoration.

Pop-up Book Café coordinator Tomas Brickhill said they are glad to have hosted such a successful commemorative gig for Marley and Zimbabwean star Nyemba.

He, however, highlighted that it has not been a smooth ride for Pop-up Book Café since they left their old venue along Samora Machel Avenue.

“Well, it was that time again when we host our usual monthly Pop-up Book Café events, so we found out that Transit Crew was also organising a commemoration event for their late bassist Munyaradzi Nyemba and we got together and planned this gig. As Pop-up Book Café it has been a tough ride. I do not want to sound unappreciative to New Ambassador Hotel for hosting us, but it is high time we move to a permanent and accessible central venue and retain our large base of followers.

“Ten percent of the gate takings from this event are going straight to Munya’s family. I have so much respect for Transit as I understand these guys have been playing for more than 25 years,” said Brickhill.

Transit Crew Band manager Fred Zindi said they were glad to be part of an event of this magnitude.

“As Transit Crew we are glad to be part of the performers and organisers of this big event. I have always been part of Transit Crew since the band’s formation back in the day and was struck right in the heart by the death of Munya Nyemba, but we cannot keep on crying. We celebrate the great life and talent that he had,” said Zindi.

Bob Marley commemoration events seek to celebrate the life and times of the legendary Jamaican reggae icon who put the genre on the world map and also popularised the Rastafarian movement.

The reggae icon was born Robert Nesta Marley on February 6 1945 in Nine Miles, St Ann, Jamaica. He died on May 11, 1981.

He was awarded the International Peace Medal by the African delegation to the United Nations in 1978. He was also an official guest at Zimbabwe’s Independence celebrations in 1980.