Zimpapers Logo

Sophia Chese Arts Correspondent
Scores of artistes from different genres thronged the Book Café on Tuesday night to fundraise for fellow artiste Pretty Xaba who needs to undergo surgery in India.
Actress Xaba, who is well known for her role as Mai Muwengwa in Studio 263, was diagnosed with cancer last month.
Dubbed “Let’s help Pretty Xaba Campaign”, the show lived to its billing with an array of artistes coming to support their colleague.
Xaba needs at least $15 000 to cover surgery expenses.

Musicians Jah Prayzah, Baba naMai Charamba, Suluman Chimbetu, Albert Nyathi, Progress Chipfumo, BaShupi, Prince Musarurwa and actor Charles Kapfupi were among the artistes who performed during the  show.

The show started with poets and comedians entertaining the audience. Doc Vikela and Q The Boss left the people in stitches with their jokes.
Opening the door for the musicians was Sulu, who serenaded music lovers with his late father’s songs such as “Pane Asipo”, “Samatenga” and his hit “Sean Timba”.

The Charambas also left the fans in awe when they put up a sterling performance of their hits from previous projects including touching song “Ndoga Handigone”.
Progress Chipfumo, who played only one song, left the people clamouring for more.

Jah Prayzah gave an explosive act.
It was a unique night for the musician who calls himself “Soja Rinosvika Kure” as he came clad in a designer suit instead of the famous army regalia stage outfit.
He performed his latest single “Karunyerekupe” and the fans sang along and danced jubilantly.

He also played “Kumbumura Mhute” before he left the stage but his fans called for more and he had to return to sing the song “Makanika”.
In an interview on the sidelines of his performance, Jah Prayzah said the show was important to him since it was not just one of his performances but a gig that was aimed at assisting a fellow artiste.

“As artistes we believe we are one big family. It is a situation similar to when your blood brother or sister is not well. One does everything he or she can to save them and that is what we did to help our sister Pretty,” he said.

Because of the number of artistes who turned up for the show, some failed to perform because of time.
Coordinator of the programme, Taonga Mafundikwa said the response the campaign got from artistes was overwhelming and he apologised to some artistes who could not perform because of the tight programme.

Affirmative Action Group donated Pretty’s air ticket to and from India while the group’s chairman Chamu Chiwanza offered $500.
A number of pledges were still coming such that the actual figure of money raised could not be ascertained by yesterday.