Archive for November, 2007
Monday, November 5th, 2007
The country yesterday woke up to news that celebrated musician Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi is now singing with the Blacks Unlimited, a band that has been backing Chimurenga music guru, Thomas “Mukanya” Mapfumo.
Tuku has always performed with the Black Spirits but an advert on the entertainment section of yesterday’s issue of The Herald revealed that Tuku Music Promotions would present a welcome back show for Oliver Mtukudzi and the Blacks Unlimited.
Maybe that explains why the show at the City Sports Centre in Harare next Saturday will be costing a hefty $2 million.
Tuku has been in the United States and it could not be established, at the time of going to print, whether he took advantage of his brief stint there to take over Mukanya’s band.
Mukanya is now based in the United States.
Stop Press: city.com has since established that someone at Tuku Music made a boob when writing up the advert. Instead of writing “Black Spirits” he/she wrote “Blacks Unlimited”. Although a Tuku spokesman wanted to blame the media for the error, a quick check with the original copy of the advert proved that the “copywriter” must have “fallen asleep on the driving wheel”, to quote Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor Dr Gideon Gono.
Via The Herald
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Monday, November 5th, 2007
The regional season of awards comes to a close Saturday night with the Pearl of Africa Music Awards (PAM) being held in Kampala, Uganda.
The ceremony is an opportunity for the 10 Kenyan groups and bands who have been nominated to gauge their popularity in the eyes of their fans in East Africa.
Four Kenyan artistes will be battling it out for the Best Female Artist Award.
Amani who has been the most visible female artiste in Kenya will be battling it out with Suzzana Owiyo, Nazizi and Nyota Ndogo who pipped her to the Kisima award a few weeks ago.
Given the regional voting bloc, Nyota Ndogo with her Tanzanian following, is tipped to carry the day.
“Nyota Ndogo’s music has huge following in her native Tanzania, just as it is in Kenya, because of the bongo feeling.
“She therefore stands a better chance than the others,” says promoter Leakey Odera.
The Jamnazi Africa band, which is famed for hits such as Riziki and Kendu Bay, has been nominated for the Best Band category, and it will have to beat perennial rivals Kayamba Africa, Necessary Noise and Nix to win the award.
Given that it pipped their the rivals to win the equivalent awards at Kisima, Jamnazi Africa is the group to beat.
Old rivalry is also being renewed tonight between Eric Wainaina and Jua Cali for the Best Male award. It is the same story for most of the awards, and the duo even took their rivalry to the international stage when they were both nominated for the recent Music of Black Origin (MOBO) awards in London.
Jua Cali has also just returned from Germany where he was also one of the nominees for the Best Africa Act at the prestigious MTV Europe Music awards.
Also in that category is Wyre, who is famed for the song, Make a Choice, but the person who might spring a surprise or two on Eric and Jua Cali is definitely DNA.
His song, Banjuka Tu, is enjoying massive airplay in Uganda and Tanzania, just as it did in Kenya when it was released recently.
“It is great to be nominated because it shows that the people listen and appreciate your music,” Jua Cali told Review in a recent interview.
“If I win, then let it be.”
Of the awards from the other East African countries, everyone will be waiting with bated breath to find out who will be crowned the Male Artiste of the Year.
Three of the greatest and most controversial names in the Ugandan music scene have all been nominated for this category.
They are Jose Chameleon, Bobi Wine and Bebe Cool, the latter two of whom do not see eye to eye due to the rivalry.
The rivalry Bobi Wine and Chameleon has often turned physical, ending on police report desks. In fact, the organisers will be hoping that dark-horse Ronald Mayinja turns out to be the winner of this category to neutralise things.
“The rivalry between Chameleon’s and Bobi Wine is well known, but it is upon the public to vote for their favourite,” one of the organisers said during the official launch of the Kenya awards at Club Galileo.
“We hope there will be no drama.”
The PAM awards are special as they are the only one that offer a cash prize for the winners. Some $500 (about KSh35,000) may not sound much, but it the an icing on the cake for the winner of any award.
Since its inception five years ago, PAM ceremony has always been held in Uganda. However, to give it a regional outlook, the organisers plan to hold it in Kenya next year.
Via The Nation
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Friday, November 2nd, 2007
Best Album - Nelly Furtado, LooseInter Act - Tokio Hotel
Artist’s Choice (chosen by MTV) - Amy Winehouse
Most Addictive track - Avril Lavigne, Girlfriend
Video Star - Justice, D.A.N.C.E
Rock Out - 30 Seconds to Mars
Band - Linkin Park
Ultimate Urban - Rihanna
Headliner - Muse
Solo - Avril Lavigne
New sounds of Europe - Bedwetters (Estonia)
Free Your Mind (chosen by MTV) - Anton Abele - Bevara oss från gatuvåldet
Best Danish Act - Nephew
Best German Act - Bushido
Best French Act - Justice
Best Italian Act - J-Ax
Best Adriatic Act - Van Gogh (Serbia)
Best Dutch/Belgian act - Within Temptation (Netherlands)
Best Polish Act - Doda
Best Finnish Act - Negative
Best UK & Irish Act - Muse
Best Portuguese Act - Da Weasel
Best Romanian Act - Andreea Bănică
Best Norwegian Act - El Axel
Best Swedish Act - Neverstore
Best Baltic Act - Jurga
Best Spanish Act - Violadores del Verso
Best Turkish Act - Ceza
Best Hungarian Act - Ákos
Best Russian Act - Dima Bilan
Best African Act - d’banj
Best Arab Act - Rashed Al-Majed
Best Ukrainian Act - Lama
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Friday, November 2nd, 2007
New Life Covenant Church’s choir - the Covenant Praise — will tomorrow celebrate United States’ internationally acclaimed gospel musician, Fred Hammond’s music at the Harare Gardens concert.
Dubbed “Celebrating the Music of a Great Legend”, the concert that will feature local gospel artistes Pastor G and Prince Mafukidze starts at 6pm and ends at 9pm. The event initially billed to be held in Harare Gardens, has changed venue. It will now be held at New Life Covenant Church, 55 Kwame Nkrumah Avenue, with the date and time remaining the same as previously advertised in the Press.
Pastor G in the gospel circles, is popular for his fusion of rap and hip-hop symphonies that borrow heavily from American trends and gives a Zimbabwean touch that appeals largely to the younger generation. Prince Mafukidze is not a new name to gospel music and his inclusion on the line-up is likely to add flavour to the concert. Born in Detroit, Michigan in the United States, Hammond started singing and playing the bass guitar at a very tender age. Years later, between 1984-5, he became a member of The Winans and the Commissioned for which he played the bass guitar.
While with The Commissioned, Hammond recorded 10 albums before he went on to launch his own outfit Radical for Christ.
In 2002 the musician - who has sold millions of albums on top of winning several gospel music awards including the Dove, Stellar and Grammy awards - produced for his former group Commissioned the self-titled album, Commissioned Reunion Live.
Via The Herald
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Friday, November 2nd, 2007
Stung by Jamaican reggae star Luciano’s endorsement of the land reform programme, British immigration authorities yesterday vindictively denied the singer’s band members transit visas to travel from Jamaica through London for the Jacaranda Jazz Festival set to burst into life at the City Sports Centre tomorrow night.
The 10 band members were supposed to join Luciano, who arrived in Zimbabwe on Monday, for the festival, a Zimbabwe Tourism Authority initiative which seeks to promote ecological and urban tourism. The festival starts at midday and lasts the whole night. ZTA chief executive Mr Karikoga Kaseke, who broke the news during a Press conference in Harare yesterday, said the British authorities were miffed by Luciano’s stance on Zimbabwe’s land reforms and were trying to sabotage his performance by preventing his band members from joining him.
Mr Kaseke said the British authorities in Jamaica had granted transit visas to some of the band members while denying them to others — a move that rekindled memories of how the German embassy in Harare earlier this year sabotaged a Zimbabwean delegation that was supposed to attend an ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Forum meeting in Wiesbaden, Germany, by granting visas to only half the delegation while turning down the rest.
The Zimbabwe delegation, led by Senator Forbes Magadu, planned to present a draft resolution condemning the EU sanctions on Zimbabwe.
Contacted for comment yesterday, Ms Gillian Dare, the spokesperson for the British embassy in Harare, said she had no idea who Luciano was and added that in any case she had no authority to comment on individual cases.
Since his arrival in Zimbabwe, Luciano has hailed President Mugabe, whom he described as a great leader indispensable for the success of Zimbabwe’s reforms. “The bad news is that Luciano’s band members are no longer coming, but Luciano is determined to go ahead with the show. We have, therefore, identified (local reggae group) Transit Crew as a suitable group to back him. They are already rehearsing,” said Mr Kaseke.
A sobbing Luciano assured his fans during the same Press conference that the show was still on. “Our duty is to send the message and the show will go ahead as planned. Like I said earlier this week, we have a special message for the country and we are calling upon our sisters and brothers to come and hear what the ‘Messengers’ have in store for them. I am here on a ministerial mission and I hope my message will be heard loud and clear,” the outspoken reggae star said.
“In short, I am promising a show that will send Zimbabweans talking and they should also expect popular songs and a few that I have composed for this special visit,” he added.
Luciano — who has composed a special song for the nation titled Zimbabwe Stand Strong, which he will play at the festival — said there was more to the festival than partying and boozing.
The Messenger of Jah, as he is affectionately known in reggae circles, urged people to converge in their numbers at the City Sports Centre for the festival, which is also known as Pfumvudza. His companion Mikey General, who will partner him at the show, urged Zimbabweans to stand up and fight for what is rightfully theirs. “As for me, there is nothing much I promise save for the ministry we have brought here,” he said.
Andy Brown, Tongai Moyo, Fungisai Zvakavapano-Mashavave, Trevor Hall’s Crucial Mix and Cephas Mashakada will be the supporting acts. As news of the British action filtered through Harare last night, The Herald switchboard was jammed by irate callers expressing outrage at the malice shown by British immigration.
One caller said it was ironic that the British government, which always claims to be the epitome of democracy and freedom of expression, was victimising Luciano for speaking his mind.
This, she said, should show the world that Britain’s fight against Zimbabwe was not about values, but land.
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Friday, November 2nd, 2007
The biggest night in Uganda’s music industry is on tomorrow. Artistes’ work is on a scale and tomorrow some of them will walk away with awards and the prize money that comes with it
The pearl of Africa music awards are here and again temperatures are rising in anticipation of this big event. Who walks away with what come tomorrow evening remains a myth as the competition is tight in a few categories and others the results are almost predictable. We weigh the chances of the artistes in some of the major categories.
Best Female Artiste
Juliana Kanyomozi this year has cemented her position as Uganda’s diva. Looks like Iryn played out her chances last year. Sarah Zawedde is good, only if she didn’t have such competition. The nomination of Hajjati Sophia Nantongo, shows recognition of someone who is a veteran in the music industry.
Best Male Artiste
Jose Chameleone, we would almost plead you get back in the race, no it’s okay, you actually make work a lot easier for us. Ronald Mayinja’s Africa is a great example of music for positive change, but it doesn’t sound good enough for this title. The real competition here is between Bebe Cool and Bobi Wine.
For some reason, Bobi Wine poses a bigger threat for his songs like Kiwani, Kicommando and Abalungi Balumya, which have been big hits. We can’t be too sure though since last year Bebe Cool missed out even with big collabos under E.A.B.C like Fire Anthem. Who knows, the tables could still turn.
Artiste Of The Year
If it’s about going international Bebe Cool could pass for our artiste of the year. He made us proud in the Channel O awards, collecting two trophies for best director and video of the year for E.A.B.C’s Kube. He was also a nominee in the UK based Music of Black Origin (Mobo) awards.
But again this is no news for the average Ugandan, who is not interested in any Ugandan artiste fighting hard to go international when there is a ghetto boy who lives right next-door, making last year’s winner Bobi Wine a bigger threat to Bebe Cool. For Ronald Mayinja a nomination alone spells great success and Hajjati Sophia Nantogo’s nomination is good news for the feminist.
Song Of The Year
If its about the message Dr. Hilderman’s Mazongoto is far from making any point, though he could pass for enriching Ugandan slang. Bobi Wine’s Kiwani has been a hit and who doesn’t use this word now. Other nominees are Africa (Ronald Mayinja) and Kiba Kibi (Bebe Cool & Sweet Kid).
Video of The Year
Production, picture quality, lighting, editing, choreography and the storyboard is not what it’s all about here. Abalungi Balumya (Bobi Wine & Nubian Li) gives off an 80’s feel combined with the true reggae style which everyone is obsessed with lately.
Blu*3’s Burrn is your ideal Kampala girl video though that fire wouldn’t even scare a hen. Juliana’s Kanyimbe was almost there if only we were not sure there is only one Whitney Houston. The other nominee is Gerald Kiweewa for his Ekyedalu.
Audio Producer Of The Year
These are the real makers of music though for some reason nobody looks them up. The only time they receive recognition is when musicians drop their names in their songs, and this category must mean a lot to them.
The competition here is between two brothers Steve jean and Henry Kiwuuwa and it is no doubt, that here its a story of nurturing someone only to be beaten at your game. The other nominees are Washington and Tony Hauls.
Best New Artiste
With Qute kaye as the old and new artiste we are not sure anymore, the category wants a new artiste, he was a nominee under the Hip-Hop category last year (having sang chorus for the hip-hop all stars song) which leaves us wondering if he qualifies for the category. Ronnie Banton is another veteran who has been nominated in this category.
It is understandable considering his breakout hit Kawuna came this year. Clever J is just a Chameleone mimic. With Weasel, Chameleone and him we have a little more than we need. Henry Tigan is the ideal new artiste but that is a tricky situation, Qute Kaye is a big threat.
Via The Monitor
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Friday, November 2nd, 2007
JAMAICAN reggae icon Luciano touched down at Harare International Airport on Tuesday afternoon, dispelling doubts which had been surrounding his hugely ancticipated tour, first reported by The Weekend Gazette.
“People thought it was an April fool’s hoax, but there was no-one who wanted to fool anyone,” said a Zimbabwe Tourism Authority official.
Clad in green military fatigues with several ‘decorations’, his most trusted lieutenant Mickey General in tow, the reggae “Messenger” as he prefers to call himself, coolly negotiated his way through Immigration. At first he looked bemused by the huge army of journalists who instantly mobbed him looking first for a photo opportunity before even asking questions. Being the international icon that he is, he gladly gave everyone an opportunity before taking a few questions from journalists.
“I am in Zimbabwe on a mission I have come to spread the message, the ministry of Jah, coming to Zimbabwe is like coming home, this is more like Jamaica, the people, the smiles and everything,” said Luciano in typical reggae fashion.
Luciano’s trip to Zimbabwe has over the past weeks been shrouded in controversy with different signals being given by the ZTA, which finally brought him into the country. At one time the Authority indicated that it had pulled out of the deal to bring the Jamaican artist only to make hasty invitations to the media to cover his arrival. Harare International Airport came to a standstill as the “Messenger” made his way into the building. The entire airport, particularly the main arrival lobby was a sea of red, black, white, yellow and red as fans braced for the arrival of the reggae master.
“Is he still coming or we have been lied to?” asked a fan who had brought his entire family to the airport to welcome Luciano.
This was after the South African Airways flight from Johannesburg had arrived with no sign of the Jamaican artist.
There were various versions of how to extend greetings reggae style on display. And at once I felt the spirit getting the better of me. Emotions ran high, with journalists running up and down seeking to get the scoop, while airport security men were torn between having a photo taken with Luciano and responding to the call of duty.
The reggae icon was given royal treatment with businessman Phillip Chiyangwa chipping in with courtesy transport, which took Luciano from the airport to a Harare hotel. Chiyangwa’s sons drove the artiste in a yellow Hummer with personalised number plates.
Some motorists rushing to the airport were left bemused by the long convoy of cars and simply opted to give way fearing the unknown. Many probably thought it was the President coming from the airport.
Thereafter, a press conference was held and excitement was still high. A group of tourists had to give way to the “Messenger.” A red carpet was rolled out in his honour.
“Luciano is coming as a visitor, friend and artist. He is a messenger who has a message to the people of Zimbabwe. He is here for the annual Jacaranda festival which celebrates sustainable development through tourism,” said a top ZTA official.
“We had given our friends in the commercial sector the right to bring Luciano but they failed dismally and as government we had to intervene. We have brought the great son of the soil.”
The tour of the Jamaican artist however had its fair share of controversy. It took two hours for the artist to be cleared through immigration and at the same time Nhamo Chitimbe of Shumba Instrumentation who claimed to have secured the deal alleged that he had been sidelined.
He said, “ZTA should do what they want but I am not a politician, I don’t have political power but I didn’t do this for individuals but for the people of Zimbabwe. I know Luciano personally as a friend and I don’t know him as a businessperson. He came without his band because he wants this mess sorted out first,” said Chitimbe before he was interrupted by a phone call from Caveman in Jamaica. Caveman is a close associate of Luciano.
Luciano said he was in Zimbabwe to give the people strength to prevail through the hardships.
“We have always wanted to come to Zimbabwe especially after Bob Marley sang about Zimbabwe. We are messengers we are here to give the people strength. We are coming to Zimbabwe at a crucial time because you need inspiration,” said Luciano.
He is the fourth high profile reggae artist to visit Zimbabwe after Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Freddie McGregor who visited in the 1980’s.
Via Financial Gazette
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Friday, November 2nd, 2007
MANY South African rugby fans still seem inexplicably incapable of even miming the national anthem, but last weekend’s victory shenanigans revealed an unexpected fluency in the lyrics of Shosholoza. In the same way, music fans from every community could probably make their way through the chorus of (Let’s Go) 50:50 or Doo Be Doo. Musical crossover is opening up fresh opportunities for all kinds of artists — at least, if their music is heard.
But below the broadcasting waterline a mass of independent “garage” labels is growing, whose products might have similar appeal if they could command similar resources and promotional muscle.
Even a small sample of what’s out there reveals its diversity and quality. Take Zwalaka. This trio’s album, In This World (Junga Music: 082-875-6557), presents 10 catchy, well-sung tracks in the Afropop mould, with lyrics in languages from Swahili and Tsonga to Zulu, underpinned by some seriously good guitar playing from co-vocalist Wiggzaro. There’s sometimes a relentless busyness in the programming, and the lyrics often state the obvious, but Zwalaka is infinitely better than most overseas pastiches of African sounds, while the trance track Spanish Fly is just waiting for some Ibiza DJ to pick it up.
Lyrics are not a problem for Ruff Wan (Victor Hlongwane) on his debut, the rather awkwardly titled Murwa Muthu: D.A.V.I.C (Ibilion Records 083-498-1807). It’s hard to pigeonhole this album, but perhaps it deserves its own category, maybe “Nyabinghi hip-hop”. For this is tense, hard-core rapping laid over dazzlingly textured samples and beats, and founded on Rastafarian drums and righteous lyrics. Ruff Wan’s flows are beautifully timed, his lyrics edgy and relevant, and there are even allusions to classic ’70s dub vocal styling on the track Eye-Opena (”Be wise: condomise”). Much South African hip-hop is US-referenced, and for that reason is sometimes stale; this album feels more akin to Senegal’s Positive Black Soul or Brazil’s Naçao Zumbi. It is musically fresh and hard-hitting and deserves a far wider airing.
But what is significantly new about this flowering of independent production is the number of jazz artists getting in on the act. Marcus Wyatt, Andile Yenana, Feya Faku and Mervyn Afrika are only a few of the names whose latest output bears their own production imprint. Such artists might in the past have found a home with Sheer Sound or Chissa. The former now seems to be concentrating on its extensive back catalogue and Sheer Dance, while the latter, after a wonderfully promising start, has been silent on new jazz releases for some months.
The latest jazz player to release his own album is veteran Kimberley-born keyboard player Stix Hojeng. Hojeng has played with just about everybody on his home turf, and made a major contribution to the sound of the Afro-jazz group Afrika-O-Ye.
Hojeng’s trademark sound includes mellow, swinging improvisation and George Benson-style scatting to his own keyboard solos, and this release, Ko Kasi, has plenty of both. The dozen tracks range from easy, fusion-style noodling to far more solid, groove-led numbers. All are composed by the pianist, and are a mix of live quartet — with some tasty saxophone from Ayodele Solanke — and synthesised studio-programmed tracks.
Unlike the other CDs mentioned, Hojeng has received airplay recognition. Ko Kasi tracks topped the June charts on both Kaya-FM and Jozi-FM. Deservedly so, for tunes such as Cheerful Heart and Smooth Jazz (ironically, one of the most textured) display what a good pianist he can be.
But the programmed tracks, as always, lack bite. That’s why artists such as Hojeng need studio resources: to give their songs a full band capable of imbuing them with muscle and pattern. And the songs need a skilled lyricist, to translate Hojeng’s rather colourless sung prose into words that ring as vividly as the notes. But with radio success now under his belt, Hojeng’s initiative could well win him the label interest his music merits.
Via Business Day
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