The release of Sha Sha’s long-awaited album I’M Alive sees the BET Award winner assert her dominance of Amapiano while also extending her creativity into a bolder, soulful R&B terrain.
The follow-up to her debut offering Blossom, I’M Alive is the sound of an artist who is breaking barriers – as heard on the fantastic four singles that have been a precursor to her second full-length.
The singles “Ungowami” featuring Soa matrix, “Themba Lami” featuring Ami Faku, and “Give Me Something” featuring Rowlene, have together offered a potent and unforgettable reminder of why Sha Sha is such a formidable music force.
I’M Alive is nothing short of a proclamation by Sha Sha on her musical eclecticism and wide-ranging gifts – from songwriting to performing. It is also a statement of her own power. “There had to be certain things within myself that had to happen so I could come alive,” she says. “It’s more like a rebirth, self-reflection and healing.”
I’M Alive features 30 collaborators and “I think every single one of them brought a special contribution to my project,” says Sha Sha. “I am very proud of us as a team and the music we have created.
“I think there are some great and exciting surprises on the album, people will discover the diversity of the music we have created.” The album is executively co-produced, mixed and mastered by long-time collaborator Herc Cut The Lights who had to say “A lot of time and effort was put into this body of work to create a lifelong experience”.
The album sees Sha Sha moving through Amapiano and show her musical strength in other genres, among them Afrobeats and R&B. It’s an intoxicating, genre bending mix that gives expression to her aspiration to reach new audiences across the world while never forsaking the signature Sha Sha sound that has turned her into the Amapiano Queen.
“This album was a healing process for me,” Sha Sha shares. “I don’t want to prescribe too much to people, but I think the healing and love message will come through clearly. The title I’M Alive is not a morbid one.
It is a journey of letting go of a version of me and welcome the new one. It is about low frequencies around me and inside of me that had to come to an end for a new version of me to come alive. I am a very spiritual person so in this journey the relationship with God is central.”
Finally, on what she hopes the audience will take away from ‘I’M Alive’, Sha Sha says: “I want audiences to let themselves go and get lost in the music. To take whatever they want from it and maybe in a way it assists them to tell their stories too.”
If anything, music promoters are some of the most daring entrepreneurs. We cannot doubt that moves are calculated before execution. But the insecurity of investing thousands in a venture entirely dependent on the clientele’s impulse is a gamble with infinite risk.
The Sungura Blast held Saturday night at the giant HICC is testimony to this enlightenment.
With an all-star line-up of the biggest Sungura acts like Alick Macheso, Nicholas Zakaria, Mark Ngwazi, Sulu and Baba Harare the nets were cast not so far from the big catch.
However, Gateway Stream is that investor well-positioned to play this card and their determination to make a name in the music industry has proven to be eyeing the long-term side of things.
Amongst the highly sceptical armchair critics is this writer on whether the sungura faithful would fill this monstrous arena at a charge of $20 United States Dollars. Early bird tickets were billed $10. The sun eventually dipped and the hotel’s lighting began to expose the early birds who were on time for Armageddon.
The battle of my inexperienced business conscience against this dare by professional business planners. The clock soon raced to as late as 8pm with a sizeable number of revellers who surely anticipated a flop.
Kanindo female artist Shantel Sithole who warmed the stage with a class performance. Momentarily, seats began to fill and my crossed fingers simultaneously loosened.
Shantel Sithole picture by Events Evolution
Now at par with rationale thinking that Harare is a mad city. The beautiful dancers on the big stage silenced the doubts. It was game on!
Nicholas Zakaria ‘the senior lecturer’ emerged to perform to a relatively good crowd. This crowd treated Madzibaba as genuinely deserving of legendary status. For a man who has dined with the guitar for 47 years, a top-notch display would be the least of expectations.
Calm, collected and glued to the mic; the set lectured a great deal of class. Thanks to the beard that personified the grey hair wisdom the engaged music fans were in great support lighting the event to great shine like his clean shave. Bald and bold. The dancers took it further with what easily was the best choreography of the night.
He would soon be cut short to make way for the overly ‘naughty’ Baba Harare. His too would be a performance to solidify his ambitions as the city’s father. Something which has something to do with everything best censored for the dignity of mature music.
At this point, the festival was living up to the hype. The success became no longer a matter of attendance but music as a blissful experience. Mark Ngwazi is definitely a fan favourite. His place in the industry bridges the generation of sungura legends and its current crop of fans who appreciate this genre.
This claim was fully backed by the outfits his band were in; ‘gold’ chains and Nike T-shirts. Without wasting a minute the little crowd roared into a choral of denouncing hypocrite friends – ‘blame yourself for trusting them’ the guitar-led. It was a performance and a half from the prospective king of sungura.
It might sound very unfair to collect all these festivities and package them as curtain rising. But truly, the momentum and atmosphere drastically improved with the knowledge that it was now time for the main meal.
At a very fast pace, we knew the maestro is ready backstage. Have you watched the New Zealand All Blacks rugby team right before a rugby match? That ritualistic war cry. Orchestra Mberikwazvo is somewhat a replica of that energy.
Alick Macheso is a superstar. The VIP seats were left almost empty as revellers moved closer to the stage to reduce the distance between themselves and greatness.
Alick Macheso – Picture by Event Evolution
‘Ayaya – ndoda kutenda weGateway, pasina imi vanhu tingadai tisipo’ he humbled himself as he did throughout the performance. The base guitar magician went on to hit those strings with a towel for Christ’s sake! In rhythm as the crowd cheered with amazement. Alick Macheso mastered his craft.
Rich bosses interrupted him with notes that we couldn’t count, but his reactions were snitching that yes it’s a lot of money. Well, deserved.
As the night touched its zenith, wee hours were left for Sulumani to wind down the festivities. The Dendera singer delivered his catalogue of hits as people joined in dance knowing that it was the last. ‘So much thank You’ type of performance to cap off the night of Zimbabwe’s undying genre of guitars.
Now that this is a review a lot could go unsaid because saying a lot still cannot be addressed in pages if you were not there. But back to the initial standpoint, did this gamble work for Gateway?
Not more than a third of the arena was filled so what happens to the investment? If $20 is a hefty price how much should it have cost? One fan revealed that Pamuzinda was a big success because of the attendance recently where Macheso had performed.
Is this about the venue? If people in the low-market suburbs could not afford the HICC, the people from the upmarket afforded and so what?
The target market definitely differs and for the same tomatoes, are not being charged differently because of these demographics which are low-key remnants of capitalism.
Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) has confirmed the appointment of Englishman Steve Kirby as the Zimbabwe senior men’s new Bowling Coach.
He is expected to join the national team ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 that starts in Australia next month.
Kirby, a former first-class cricketer, has until his latest appointment been serving as bowling coach at Somerset, one of the sides that he played for during his long and successful county career in England.
The 44-year-old also worked together with current Zimbabwe Head Coach Dave Houghton at Derbyshire.
Commenting on the appointment of Kirby, ZC Director of Cricket Hamilton Masakadza said: “We are delighted to confirm Steve as our Bowling Coach for the senior men’s team.
“He has done incredibly well as a player and coach in county cricket over the years and, as we seek to continue strengthening all facets of our game and improving our performances at the highest level, we count ourselves privileged and fortunate to have him as part of our technical set-up.”
Kirby said when the opportunity to join Zimbabwe came along, he felt it was one that was too good to ignore.
“I’ve got aspirations to be the very best coach that I can be, and international cricket is something that I really want to be involved with,” he said.
“I’ve worked really well with Dave Houghton previously when we were at Derbyshire and when this position presented itself, I felt that I couldn’t turn it down.
“The scale of the role is hugely exciting because I won’t just be working with the national XI, but I’ll also be involved with the whole pathway structure across the country.”
The Shoko Festival Peace in the Hood Concert always is quite the statement, as they bring in rising stars in the music space alongside festival favourites for an unforgettable demonstration of talent.
The free event will be taking place on the last day of the Festival, October 1 and will feature local talents such as Freeman HKD, Kikky BadAss, Crooger, Ndonzi Beat X, Tanto Wavie.
Brian Jeck, Natasha Muz, DJ IROQ and Abisha Palmer.
One of the most notable performances this year will be in form of talented record spinner DJ King Her.
Her star is rising and it’s set to shine on the Unit L Community Hall Grounds, marking her first time on the Shoko Festival main stage after being involved with them on two occasions.
She told Zimbuzz that she was looking forward to this festival as she liked the good vibe in Chitungwiza.
“I think this one is going to be one of the best festivals that we are having this year because we are bringing in new talent, current talent, and we are showcasing it together with established stars,” said DJ King Her.
She is known for her local playlist and mixes, and for the Shoko Festival, she promised to maintain what she has been famed for of late.
“I’m going for a specific playlist because it’s more of a festival vibe. I want it to feel very festive with a lot of energy,” she said.
The majority of my set is going to be about 90% local, the other 10% would be a couple of tracks just to get people jumping. And at the same time, they would be remixes of local music. You know, it would sound dope if we have got like some of our local artists on a piano or Afro Tech type of remix,” added DJ King Her.
She said the goal is to showcase what local has to offer which is the special focus for this year’s edition of Shoko Festival.
Prince Edward School Panthers lifted the annual Eversharp Under-20 Schools National Basketball Tournament with the narrowest of edges, defeating Kutama College 16-15.
The crowd inside Court A at Prince Edward were treated to a thriller that burst into life right from the tip-off.
As an early indication of what would come, Prince Edward was first on the board with a quick 2 by Tadiwanashe Chitsunge before Travolta Zimhunhu hit another rebound to take the score to 4-0.
Kutama College responded by halving the deficit to make it 4-2 through Tatenda Murairwa.
The opening exchanges would fall in Prince Edward’s favour with them holding a four-point lead as the team went for the halftime break at 13-9.
The incredible pace of the game didn’t let up with both sides showing their offensive qualities at the beginning of the second quarter.
An electric atmosphere in the arena was the perfect backdrop for the tournament as Kutama College was determined to snatch the game from Prince Edward.
They turned on the heat but ultimately failed to turn the game on its head as Prince Edward maintained their grip to win the Eversharp Under-20 basketball tournament by a single point.
Prince Edward capped a memorable campaign off in front of a home crowd as they showed their might in a tournament that was attended by more than 30 Schools from across Zimbabwe.
Meanwhile, Girls High School maintained their dominance in the girls’ final by beating Dzivarasekwa 2.
Both the boys’ and girls’ winning teams took home a $1500 prize money.
Speaking to Zimbuzz Eversharp marketing manager, Tonderai Kamusoko said they were encouraged by the response from the schools following a covid-19 induced break.
“We were quite shocked by the response, we sent out forty invitations and almost thirty-three schools are participating. We believe it’s a tournament that most schools have been looking forward to hence the positive response,” said Kamusoko.
He also said that Eversharp was committed to continuing to sponsor the national event where all schools participate despite where they are coming from.
“We will run for many years to come and we want it to be much bigger, we look forward to having more schools participating as we grow,” he added.
Kamusoko said naturing talent from the grassroots was at the centre of their values as a company.
“We value nurturing talent from a tender age as in so doing we create the bigger superstars for our national teams, school children are our primary consumers as Eversharp and it makes sense for us to sponsor them at that level,” said Kamusoko.
The second edition of the Shoko Roast presented by Simuka Comedy promises a night of tears and laughter with outspoken Norton MP Temba Mliswa at the center stage of the roast set to take place during Shoko Festival on the 30th of September at Reps Theatre from 6pm-8pm in Harare.
Comedy lovers will be in for a two-hour rib-cracking treat which will feature a star-studded cast that includes self-proclaimed heavenly army commander, Prophet Madungwe, the Queen of HipHop Kikky Badass, Bustop TV’s Lucky Aaron,
Musician Vimbai Zimuto, celebrity Lorraine Guyo, comedian Ckanyiso Dat Guy and the hard-hitting political satirist Comrade Fatso.
Veteran Stand Up Comedian, Carl Joshua Ncube is the new addition to the cast of the roast.
Early birds will also be treated to a 30-minute pre-roast by Kadem the Comic and Munya Guramatunhu.
Leading Zimbabwean Stand Up Comedian and Simuka Comedy Creative Director, Doc Vikela will be the roast master for the evening.
He says, “The roast is an extraordinary event that is happening for the second year running where we use satire collaboratively with Magamba Network and Simuka Comedy at Shoko Festival, where we speak truth to power, speak on issues of accountability, speaking to our leaders on the mishaps that happen in society”.
He adds that there will be no sacred cows at the roast, “This year is a no holds barred show and it’s going to be the epitome of things that cannot be said in front of a live audience being said and those things will never be repeated again.
“Even if people try, they won’t outdo what’s going to happen this year. It’s fireworks!”
Following a successful debut Shoko Roast last year which featured politician, Linda Masarira as the main guest, the event presents a unique opportunity to talk and touch on hot political topics in a deeply polarized country.
Tickets are already on sale for US$5 and have been flying off the shelf since the release of promotional material online. Tickets are available at Reps Theatre, Simuka Comedy and at Moto Republik.
Zimbabwe have announced their 15-man squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 to be staged in Australia starting next month.
Craig Ervine, sidelined by hamstring niggles since early August, is now fit and returns to captain the side.
Zimbabwe also received a timely boost with Tendai Chatara, Wellington Masakadza and Milton Shumba recovering from collarbone fracture, shoulder tendon and quadricep injuries respectively to make the squad.
Blessing Muzarabani, who was part of the side that recently toured Australia for a one-day international series but did not play a single game, is now fit enough to spearhead the team’s bowling attack again.
While the experienced Regis Chakabva, Sikandar Raza and Sean Williams were obvious choices, Bradley Evans, Tony Munyonga and Clive Madande have also made the cut.
The squad of 15 aside, Zimbabwe have named Tadiwanashe Marumani, Innocent Kaia, Kevin Kasuza, Victor Nyauchi and Tanaka Chivanga as the non-travelling reserves.
Zimbabwe’s campaign at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 will start on 17 October, when they face Ireland in the first of three Group B fixtures that will be played at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart, Tasmania.
Next, they will take on the West Indies on 19 October and then complete their first-round action against Scotland on 21 October.
The top two teams from Group B will join the Super 12 stage, along with the top two teams from Group A which features Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates, the Netherlands and Namibia.
The top two teams from each of the two Super 12 groups will advance to the semi-finals.
Before the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 proper gets underway, Zimbabwe will face Sri Lanka and Namibia in warm-up matches scheduled for 10 and 13 October in Melbourne.
Zimbabwe’s longest-running festival of urban culture Shoko Festival has announced its 12th edition which is set to run from the 27th of September to the 1st of October.
Headline acts include Freeman, Voltz JT and Kikky Badass. Venues are spread across Harare and Chitungwiza with the main festival hub being Moto Republik.
This year’s edition of Shoko Festival has a special focus on local talent – which kept hope alive during the Covid-19 pandemic – with a jaw dropping headline roster of Zimbabwe’s heavyweight household names.
The Shoko 2022 headline acts are the Zim dancehall chanter ‘HKD Boss’ Freeman who is promising to bring his full catalogue of hits, the King of Drill, Voltz JT, and the Queen of HipHop, Kikky Badass with the “Ginde” hitmaker – Crooger.
Also on the line up are new hip hop stars including Trap Sungura pioneer Tanto Wavie, Brian Jeck from Chegutu, and Bulawayo based rapper Luminous.
International acts include TMRS AwaGe & Rhodalia Silvestre from Mozambique and multi-creative DJ Lady Light from Zambia.
“This year at Shoko we want to celebrate our amazing local acts. We want to show that local is legit!” says Shoko Festival Director, Samm Farai Monro AKA Comrade Fatso.
“During the two years of lockdowns and a pandemic, our Zimbabwean artists were the ones who kept us entertained and motivated while we were stuck at home.
At the same time the local arts sector suffered massively due to a lack of live shows with venues being closed. So this year all our headline acts are proudly Zimbabwean as we salute the power of our artists! So come through and PARTYcipate”
Events lined up for this year include the Voice 2 Rep Watch Party, the Women’s Cypher, Mash Up Night, the Roast of Temba Mliswa and the main event, Peace in the Hood in Chitungwiza.
The Voice 2 Rep Watch Party at Moto Republik on Tuesday 27th September will feature powerful new voices from across Zimbabwe that are using music to demand accountability.
This event is presented in partnership with Accountability Lab Zimbabwe. The Women’s Cypher at Zimbabwe German Society on Wednesday 28th September will celebrate African women in hip hop and will feature TMRS AwaGe from Mozambique, multi-creative DJ Lady Light from Zambia and from Mutare Mary Jane and Lisa Afonso with DJ Fafi on the decks as well as an all-female band.
As is becoming the norm, on Friday 30th September Simuka Comedy is curating the second edition of the Shoko Roast of Norton MP Temba Mliswa at REPS Theatre and will feature self-proclaimed Prophet Madungwe, Vimbai Zimuto, Lorraine Guyo, Sokostina, Ckanyiso Dat Guy, Bustop TV’s Lucky Aaron and Comrade Fatso.
Last year’s hilarious debut roast featured Linda Masarira. The final day of the festival will be on Saturday 1st October where the main event Peace in the Hood will take place in Unit L Chitungwiza featuring headline acts Freeman and Kikky BadAss who are guaranteed to get the crowd jumping with their electric performances.
The stars are definitely lining for young superstars Nutty O and Tamy, as they were announced among this year’s All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) nominees.
Nutty O is nominated together with Winky D in the Best Artist, Duo or Group in African Reggae, Ragga, Dancehall category for their songs Handipere Power and Happy Again, respectively.
Winky D is again nominated under the regional category of Best Male Artist in Southern Africa for Happy Again.
Whilst Tamy is nominated under the regional category of Best Female Artist in Southern Africa for her song Sare.
She will battle it out with fellow Zimbabwean artist ShaSha who has been nominated for her song iPiano featuring Kamo Mphela & Felo Le Tee.
The 2022 All Africa Music Awards will now be held from the 8th to 11th December, 2022. A special announcement will be made on the host country and location for the awards, on Wednesday, 28th September, 2022.
Leading the nominations on a regional basis this year is the Western African region, with 134 nominations, representing 35 percent; while the Eastern African region follows closely with 69 nominations, representing 18 percent;
The Southern African region races closely with 68 nominations, representing 17.8 percent; while Central Africa pulls in its weight with 52 nominations, representing 13.6 percent; while the Northern African region follows closely with 49 nominations, representing 12.8 percent.
Also, the Global music region, which represents music from Non-Africans in the diaspora who still contribute to the growth of the African region, sums the list with 10 nominations, representing 2.6 percent.
Dominating the list with the most nominations, this year, is the South African maverick, Costa Titch, with six nominations for his 2021 smash hit, Big Flexa, in “Song of the Year”; “Breakout Artiste of the Year”; “Best African Collaboration”: “Best Artiste, Duo or Group in African Electro”; and “Best Artiste, Duo or Group in Use of African Dance/Choreography”.
Interestingly, the Congolese maestro, Dadju, ties with six nominations, as well, in “Best Male in Central Africa”; “Song of the Year”; “Album of the Year”; “Artiste of the Year”; “Best African Act in the Diaspora”; and “Best Soundtrack in a Movie, Series, or Documentary”.
Ranking closely with the third highest nominations is the Ivorian rapper Didi B who bags five nominations in “Best Male Artiste in Western Africa”; “Song of the Year”; “Album of the Year”; “Best African Rapper/Lyricist”; “Best Artiste, Duo or Group in African Hip Hop”.
Again, tying with five nominations, as well, is the Algerian Disc Jockey and Record Producer, in “Best Male Artiste in Northern Africa”; “Song of the Year”; “Best African DJ”; “Best African Act in the Diaspora”; and “Best Artiste, Duo or Group in African Electro”.
Also, ranking equally with the third highest nominations is another Algerian singer, Soolking, with five nominations in “Best Male Artiste in Northern Africa”; “Song of the Year”; “Album of the Year”; “Best Video”; and “Best African Act in the Diaspora”.
Lastly, closing the tie of artists with the third highest nominations is the Egyptian rapper and record producer, Wegz, with five nominations in “Best Male Artiste in Northern Africa”; “Song of the Year”; “Producer of the Year”; “Artiste of the Year”; and “Best Artiste, Duo or Group in African Contemporary”.
Those seeking an elite experience at Zimbabwe shows will have an environment to dine as elite members of the society, according to a new VIP promotions company.
MCM VVIP Club is promising to host business leaders, captains of industry, celebrities, socialites and the who’s who in Zimbabwe for a night of great entertainment and an opportunity to do business in a pleasurable manner On the 22nd of October 2022.
Announcing the event at a media briefing held in Borrowdale Wednesday morning, the organisers said their events were created to provide a real VVIP treatment.
“Designed from a passion to see business and pleasure mixing in one place the event will act as a platform to network, socialize and promote the Zimbabwean entertainment scene,” organisers announced.
“As MCM we want to contribute to the wellbeing of the people of Zimbabwe in business by creating an environment that is pleasurable and yet an opportunity to pitch one’s value proposition in a relaxed manner. We are simply saying you can do business while having pleasure. Business is pleasure.”
People can expect a night filled with glitz and glam from the venue setting, sitting arrangements and a uniquely designed stage for all the performances.
Tamy, speaking at the media briefing. Picture by Rolcam images
Four of the most sought-after urban contemporary musicians in Zimbabwe today will perform in a unique musical production that will see them sharing a stage like never before.
Guests can look forward to an encounter with the best male artist in Zimbabwe today Nutty O, the best female artist Tamy Moyo, current hot hip hop property Holy Ten and the new master of collaborations Ishan whose song with Annatoria ‘Lola’ is currently chart topping on radio stations.
“All those planning to attend our event can be guaranteed of a world-class approach to eventing from parking, security, handling, ushering and the general service of the night,” MCM VVIP said.
“We have been working behind the scenes to make sure that we develop an experience that keeps our guests smiling throughout the night. All those buying early tickets will also be able to prepay for their meals and drinks in advance.”
They also said that they had noted that many events around Zimbabwe do not accord a true and legit VIP experience for the discerning and elite members of our communities.
According to their observation, the treatment between an ordinary show attendee and someone with a VIP invite is always the same and the service is also not up to scratch with the general behaviour in the venue clouded with bad energy due to the lack of diligent planning from organizers and promoters.
MCM VVIP Club CEO. Picture by Rolcam images
“MCM would like to assure all those who have been seeking an opportunity to dress up walk the red carpet mix and mingle with celebrities and business leaders that beginning 22 October 2022 we are rolling out a red carpet as we bring you the VVIP experience.
We have a number of events coming up, so we are inviting everyone who feels and wants to enjoy quality event productions and do business in a smart way to join the movement,” they said.
Tickets for the inaugural show are now out, going for $60 in advance and $100 at the door.
They can be purchased at Beach House, Pariah Belgravia, Boss Café, Jan Jam and Star FM.
