The Sunday News
Peter Matika Senior Leisure Reporter
HIGH-RIDING and world-travelled mbira queen, Hope Masike will be one of the major attractions at this year’s second edition of the Zimbabwe Music Festival (ZimFest) to be held in Norway. Masike is scheduled to perform alongside a number of seasoned, prolific musicians and artistes, who include former Ilanga band member and True Love hit-maker Busi Ncube, who is now based in Norway.
According to one of the festival’s founding members and organiser of the event — Brain Masunda, the festival will be held from 28 to 31 August at the Nordic Black Theatre in Oslo.
Masunda said the Norway festival was introduced to the country last year and still upheld the concept from the original festival held in United Kingdom.
“We introduced this festival in Norway last year. The festival still has the same concept as the one in UK. We are introducing it to several countries across the world with the hope of promoting our culture and artistes,” he said.
Masunda said Masike would also collaborate with other invited artistes but she would be the main attraction with Ncube as they were both doting mbira queens.
“She will also do a Frilansfrokost Zimfest Special together with Hanna Von Bergen, where the theme will be — The Mbira, from nature to pop music,” he said.
Zimfest was established in 2001 by a group of Zimbabweans based in the UK.
The festival was first held on a field behind a prison in Wandsorth, South West London, where more than 700 Zimbabweans based in Europe and other continents attended.
Funds raised at Zimfest are usually channeled towards supporting Zimbabwe particularly in community development and human rights.
Zimfest has grown to become one of the biggest African festivals attracting thousands of people around the globe in a uniquely African celebration. Testament to the success of the event is that strategic partnerships have been established to give the event a unique global presence and has taken place in five cities across the globe: London, Cape Town, Perth, Brisbane, Oslo and Harare, attracting Zimbabweans as well as locals in a truly multi-cultural celebration of Zimbabwean and African music and culture.
