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Arts Correspondent
Since the demise of Book Café, there is a section of artistes that has been homeless.

Artistes like poets, comedians and writers that used to utilise the Book Café space for interaction and performances have been hopelessly hopping from one place to the other without getting their deserved recognition.

Musicians that pursue mbira, Afro-fusion and jazz suffered a similar fate although they had an advantage of getting periodic slots at joints that mainly aim to experiment with their sounds.

Most of them have been complaining that they are losing space to more popular genres and their fans were getting bored because of their lack of consistence.

But the artistes’ prayers have now been answered.

Red Café, a new baby in showbiz, has brought a new lease of life to the affected artistes. It has fitted into the gap that Book Café left and answered the call for redemption.

Situated along Harare Street, the place has won hearts of followers of these elite genres because of its ambiance and thrust of creating an environment that brings intimacy between artistes and fans.

When mbira guru Tichaona Wilfred MaAfrika performed at the venue recently, he was a happy man. He said mbira musicians and their fans had become miserable nomads. He said the artistes were feeling like outcasts while fans were losing patience, which had greatly affected attendance at their shows.

He has confidence in Red Café and other artistes have already endorsed the venue.

This week the place was a hive of activity since Monday. The venue hosts a Poetry Monday every week and this week they doubled with a talk show by Fari Wacho titled “Free Spirits”.

On Wednesday Gary Tight launched his latest video “Tororo” and the party left lasting impressions.

Yesterday Madiz came to the place for the launch of his latest single to spice up the programme with some slow rhumba vibes.

Tonight the party continues as Baba Harare performs at the venue while Pualine’s birthday party takes place tomorrow featuring Victor Kunonga.