The precursor to the performances was the ONE VOICE Artists forum with over 30 artists attending, double the planned group. are proud to say we believe very much the festival was a success. The speakers included the prominent Girl child Network champion Muzvare Betty Makoni and the Deputy Director of the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe Mr Nicholas Moyo, who had been visiting the United Kingdom. Muzvare Betty touched on publishing in the 21st Century. Nicholas Moyo discussed how the diaspora arts could contribute to the development of the arts in Zimbabwe.
Many artists who joined the forum expressed interest in e-publishing which was Betty’s topic and also huge interest in the issue of piracy, the situation on the ground in Zimbabwe and how artists in the diaspora can participate in investing in the area of creative industries in Zimbabwe.
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There was great enthusiasm on the variety of the artistic groups that presented their range of genres. Every genre was represented and gospel opened up the platform with the Delighted Sisters in Harmony, the energetic Royal Destiny entertained the audiences with their harmonious and melodious voices, There was the evergreen Obert Mazivisa who left audiences wanting for more. In the traditional realm the groups Uzambezi Arts (imbube) and Chedu that played Marimba took to the stage with well polished acts. The aim was to bring together different acts all on one stage.
The evening was graced by the Lord Mayor of Canterbury Councillor Robert Waters who also presented the awards to the long serving artists in Zimbabwe. The main attraction was the first ever recognition of Lovemore Majaivana who as a legend had never been recognised. Lovemore plied his musical trade in Harare where he played with the late Fanyana Dube. Majaivana has been a great inspiration to many a musician such as Jays Marabini, Solomon Skuza, Sandra Ndebele, Africa Revenge, Willis Watafi, Busi Ncube, Mantongande, Albert Nyathi and many more. The legacy of his music is carried on in the likes of Lwazi Tshabangu, his son Derrick Majaivana and Royal Destiny.
Majaivana is a man who had humble beginnings singing in the church choir in which his father was minister. By the age of 15 he became a drummer in a local Bulawayo band. The groups that he played with in the early years of his career were High Chords, The Echoes and The Elbow Band. After moving to the capital city, Salisbury (now Harare) he gave up drumming and began singing in nightclubs covering Tom Jones and Elvis Presley songs. Majaivana played in Bulawayo for four years, he then returned to Salisbury and formed his own band, The Jobs Combination named after Job's Nightclub (owned by then businessman Job Kadengu) where the group was the resident band). When he did his last album 'Isono Sami' one could not help but tell that the man was hurt from how he was treated by the system.
Majaivana was regarded as most prophetic especially as he created social commentary lyrics for his songs. 'Angilamali' was one of the songs he expressed his pain until he emigrated to the US. It will not be helpful to start talking about what Majee said after he has gone and writing his obituary. Zimbabweans therefore need to honour their own before it is late.
Muzvare Betty Makoni is no novice to awards but as an organisation we felt it imperative to recognise her for the work she has done with the girl child network international. We had to award the Lord Mayor for awarding others and he acknowledged receipt of the award with emotion and said during his tenure he had been giving out awards but never received any himself. Yes the festival had its own teething problems which included starting late and that seems symbolic with the Zimbabwean folks but very retrogressive in the developed world.
The festival was also interconnected with the educational aspect of hypertension, which in the last year has taken the lives of three of our community members in Kent. We also wanted and will always maintain the community aspect. As an organisation we were bred by this community we do not want to abandon them for an ivory tower kind of venue where people would pay through their noses to see their community heroes and heroines recognised and to talk about a disease that is haunting people they left back in the backyard.
Expectations are already high that the second edition of MPORIRO Festival in the coming year will be bigger, better and stronger.
Post published in: Arts