Zimpapers Logo

Arts Reporters

The festival culture is back and merry-makers’ big weekend beckons!

After months of preparations, this summer promises fireworks as management gurus have lined up a series of events to celebrate the money-spinning season.

The third weekend of September will set the tone for more to come before the year-old.

Below are some of the events to look forward to this weekend:

Tuku Legacy under Spotlight

All roads will be leading to Pakare Paye Arts Centre in Norton for the inaugural Oliver Mtukudzi International Festival of the Arts (OMIFA) this weekend.

The two-day festival, which kicks off tomorrow, is held in memory of the late national hero Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi.

Tomorrow, Selmor Mtukudzi is expected to headline the opening day of OMIFA 2024 along with her sister Sandra who arrived from the United Kingdom.

The siblings will share the stage with Killer T, Nisha Ts, Andy Muridzo, Djembe Monks, Sarungano, Gwevedzi ReDefined, Innosant Sax, Taffie Matiure and Munya Nyamarebvu.

The performances start at 7 pm till late.

On Sunday, Jah Prayzah will headline the closing night of the festival.

Tamy Moyo, Fusion 5 Mangwiro, Mokoomba, Gemma Griffiths, Bryan K, Mwendamberi (Solution GS), Agga Nyabinde, Hope Masike, Vazukuru VeAfrica, the Black Spirits featuring Mbeu, Donald Kanyuchi and Sarungano will perform on the final day.

For variety’s sake, there will be performances and productions in theatre curated by SunTu Guild and Thomas Brickhill (Chikwata 263), fashion curated by the Skeyi & Strobo Fabrik Party, art, dance and film curated by First Floor Gallery Harare, Spoken Word by Sibonokuhle Siwawa (Skai) plus a children’s programme curated by Precious Children’s Arts Organisation (PICA).

Workshops and master classes for creatives will also mark the day.

Tuku would have been celebrating his 72nd birthday on September 22.

Trumpeter Lunga serenades Byo, Harare fans

United Kingdom-based trumpeter and music teacher, Paul Lunga, is back home for the two legs of the annual Zimbabwe Jazz Festival taking place in Bulawayo and Harare this weekend.

The “King of Jazz Horns” opens his account in his hometown of Bulawayo with a show at Alliance Francaise (Bulawayo).

Swiss singer and songwriter Nnavy is expected to add variety at the festival.

Local acts George Phahlane and Ngoma iNgoma will also provide cover at the event.

After the Bulawayo affair, Lunga and Nnavy will proceed to Harare for the final leg of this year’s festival at Alliance Francaise (Harare) tomorrow.

In Harare, the pair will exchange notes with Prudence Katomeni-Mbofana, Agga Nyabinde, Rhythmic Pulse, Steve Chikotie and the Hellenic Academy Big Band.

Zimbabwe Jazz Community Trust (ZJCT) founder and artistic director, Filbert Marova is coordinating the two-day event meant to revive, promote and preserve the jazz culture of Zimbabwe.

Fat Cat’s Mammoth Burning Out Show

Borrowdale Race Course in Harare will be on fire this Sunday when it hosts Fat Cat’s 60th birthday bash.

Dubbed “Fat Cat Birthday Spin Show”, the event will parade an array of spinners and stuntmen from South Africa, Botswana and Zambia.

Top South African spinners comprising Feroz, Lock Diff, and Sunesh will be in attendance to mark Fat Cat’s four decades in car spinning.

Botswana’s top spinner, The General, who hardly disappoints in this sport, has been added.

Local spinners comprising Team Subaru, Dirty Boyz, Goofa, Captain Powers, Team Ghost and Captain Majid are expected to grace the event.

A DJ’s battle featuring Andile Brown, Spice, Mahogany, Nash and Fido will spice up the event. Seasoned car spinner Manzul ‘uzzy L” Fazlahmed is coordinating Fat Cat’s 60th birthday.

“This show is a bit special because it comes at a time when car spinning has been registered as a sport by the Sports and Recreation Commission Zimbabwe.

“We are also celebrating Fat Cat’s life and the existence of the Zimbabwe Spinners Association, which regulates spinners country-wide,” he said.

Zimdancehall stalwarts bring progress to Gweru

Gweru Sports Club is the only place to be tomorrow when it hosts Zimbabwe’s most sought-after chanters.

Dubbed “FillUp Gweru Sports Club”, Winky D will lead an array of top chanters performing at the event, courtesy of Chipaz Promotions. Freeman, Merciless Zimbabwe, Kae Chaps, Voltz JT, Unkat and DJ Crocx have been included in the line-up.

Macheso finds new palace in Byo

Sungura king Alick Macheso will usher Bulawayo revellers into a memorable weekend with a show at the Palace Hotel tonight. He will be supported by New Age Queens and Callistus Tavengwa at this show.

Resident wheel-spinners comprising DJ Ayaxx, DJ Keitho and DJ Tesso will be on standby.

Tomorrow, he drives to Beitbridge for another performance at Pagomba Café.