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Entertainment Reporter
A potentially explosive music collaboration unfolds in Harare and Bulawayo this weekend with the arrival of charismatic guitarist, singer, multi-instrumentalist, composer and dancer HAJAmadagascar from Madagascar.

The artiste will join Zimbabwean musicians in workshops and performances at Book Café tomorrow and National Gallery in Bulawayo on Saturday.

Tomorrow HAJAmadagascar conjures up the magic of his homeland in an ‘Afro Trance Groove’, along with two of Zimbabwe’s finest instrumentalists Blessing Muparutsa (drums) and Josh Meck (bass guitar), adding a strong local flavour to the melting pot.

In a statement, Pamberi Trust, organisers of the show, hailed Muparutsa and Meck for collaborating with their regional counterpart.

“Muparutsa and Meck are gifted and acclaimed musicians in their own right who have worked with arts development organisation Pamberi Trust at the Book Café over several years, and have eagerly taken up the opportunity for another exciting artistic adventure,” organisers noted.

Adding other Zimbabwean flavours to the pot, and back-to-back with the ‘Groove’ collaboration, is crowd-favourite Victor Kunonga.

Kunonga will have collaboration with youthful Jam Signal who have emerged strongly around the capital and at several festivals in the last year.

The amazing line-up starts by offering the Book Café stage to Bulawayo’s iTRIBE to open the show with their debut Harare performance.

The ‘Afro Trance Groove’ collaboration between HAJAmadagascar, Meck and Muparutsa started with first meeting and rehearsals in Harare on Monday, and already the artists are excited about each other.

HAJAmadagascar said, “First there is a feeling of coming home, being in Zimbabwe. This is mainly due to the fact that our countries are really closer than we think, even though nowadays there is not much direct connection between Madagascar and Zimbabwe, we are on the same latitude.

“The welcome is just amazing, the smiles are everywhere, and of course the weather is wonderful.”

The musician was glad to combine with Meck and Muparutsa.

“Working with such skillful musicians — and above all, very nice human beings — as Josh Meck and Blessing Muparutsa, is such an honour and a good experience for me.

“During the rehearsals we can see that our music has the same roots, even though each one has his own flavour. So what people are going to see in this collaboration is an interesting blend of Malagasy roots music, spiced with a Zimbabwean flavour.”

Meck felt he learnt a lot from HAJAmadagascar’s music.

“To me it’s actually a learning process because his music is very different, though very rooted in Africa. So it’s exciting to be learning to play his music and to collaborate with him,” said Meck.

“For my own style, I have played with a lot of Afro grooves with different artistes, but with Haja, it’s different, a learning process for me.

“On Friday (tomorrow) people are going to be amazed because they will not be seeing the usual me that they are used to seeing! Such a collaboration pushes you to do extra things, things you’ve never done before.”

Muparutsa was also impressed by HAJAmadagascar’s talent.

“Our first day of rehearsal was magical. His music is just amazing. It’s similar to our Afro roots vibe, and our traditional beats are close to each other. With the way that drummers play, I didn’t find any difficulty in trying to fit in with him,” said Muparutsa.

“Although there are one or two ways of accenting that are slightly different, many of the songs are the same with our Zimbabwean rhythms. I tell you, he’s magical on guitar, and people should expect fireworks! He’s very energetic, and has some brilliant ideas. I can’t wait to have the first show going, to show the magic, and then move on to the second show in Bulawayo”.

HAJAmadagascar, a multi-instrumentalist, singer, composer and dancer, is evolving just as much as a soloist as group performer. Amongst others he plays the guitar, harmonica, percussion instruments Faray, the Kabosy and the Marovany which is a sacred instrument used during trance séances and for music-therapy.

The Madagascan artist has performed at festivals, concerts, workshops and on radio and TV appearances in the UK, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Denmark, Czech Republic, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Mexico, and Canada