Zim stars get international recognition

A cocktail of local entertainers have been making waves on the international scene.

Black Bird performs with a live band at the 2011 HIFA.
Black Bird performs with a live band at the 2011 HIFA.

A new crop of young and adventurous stars has embarked on an aggressive marketing drive to export Zimbabwean art abroad. Topping the list is talented actor, Leroy Gopal, famed for his role in the popular local movie, Yellow Card. He has landed a big role in a Hollywood movie.

Gopal features in a Fox Home Entertainment Film production titled Seal Team 8 where he plays the character of the notorious gun-toting General Tonga. The film is currently under production.

Local female rapper, Nonkululeko Vundla aka Black Bird, has also recently featured on a world mixed tape. She became the country’s first musician to feature in a world mixed tape, which was released in Detroit, America.

The ground breaking tape entitled ‘World Hip-Hop Women: From The Sound Up’ is an all women composition compiled by Detroit-based female disk jockey, DJ La Jedi.

It was presented by the World Hip Hop Market and Nomadic Wax Records after a series of interviews with female emcees from America, Canada, Chile, Cuba, Egypt, Iran, Korea, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Palestine, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, United Kingdom, and Zambia.

Another artist to have done well is Mutare-based hip hop musician, Kritic Igwee, real name Kudakwashe Muchinguri. Kritic also featured in a Canadian mixed tape entitled ‘Gwopstarrz Various Artists – Bankrupt Business 12’.

Floating in the same pool is afro-fusion musician, Que Montana, and stand-up comedian, Carl Joshua Ncube, who landed major deals in South Africa.

Meanwhile, the country’s most successful music band, Mokoomba, which has won various international awards, is currently on a summer tour of Europe.

Post published in: Entertainment
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  1. Thabani Bhebhe
  2. Francesco Sinibaldi

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