Workshop 4WABWA goes to MUCUF

This has got to be one of the most humbling experiences for FLAME, to be surrounded by women who are so eager to share their art and life stories and how among themselves they could relate like one family unit.

FLAME workshop for women artists by women artists met with women artists at Murewa Culture Centre during the festivity of Murewa Uzumba Marambapfungwe Cultural Festival on Thursday, 25 October.  Over 34 women artists drawn from visual, dance, music, sculpture and among them prison inmates from Murewa Prison met for the first time in a workshop like this to share and learn with women artists from Harare, Tariro Ruzvidzo & Theresa Muchemwa who were facilitators for the workshop.

in front (Tariro Ruzvidzo, facilitator)

This workshop attracted women artists of all ages. Murewa is known for Jerusarema/Mbende  dance, so it's no wonder why most of the women are traditional dancers and they pride themselves of carrying the traditional dance heritage in Murewa.

Mr W Masenda(National Arts Council)

Gogo Magna Govhati(doing what she knows best)

A Prison Officer and Inmate from Murewa Prison doing the Mbende/Jerusarema Dance

with Theresa Muchemwa(Facilitator)

Mai Mwanza,centre

This was the last in a series of four workshops made possible by Culture fund Zimbabwe, the others having been held in Bulawayo, Chimanimani and Gweru.

WOMEN OF JAZZ TAKE TO THE FESTIVAL STAGE

WOMEN OF JAZZ TAKE TO THE FESTIVAL STAGE 
18 OCT, 8PM, BOOK CAFE

Harare is buzzing, and the second day of the OCTOBER INTERNATIONAL JAZZ & WORLD MUSIC FESTIVAL presents an exciting double-bill of two popular women artists of Zimbabwe who embrace the jazz genre - PRUDENCE KATOMENI and HOPE MASIKE at Book Café on Thursday 18 October, 8pm. The two ladies welcome the opportunity to introduce DOWN TIME QUINTET (“pure passion for jazz”), joining the festival courtesy of the Embassy of Italy. Across the city at Celebration Centre, presents a wonderful Dance Spectacular from 7pm

Darling of the jazz stage PRUDENCE KATOMENI, flitting in and out of the jazz circuit over many years has been regarded by more than a few as one of the greatest jazz singers Zimbabwe has produced in the current era. She never fails to delight with her amazing vocal range, extraordinary poise and power, and memorable performances. Long before she graduated from the Zimbabwe College of Music Jazz Programme a few years ago, Prudence was already well known in jazz circles, performing with leading jazzists of Zimbabwe, including Jazz Invitation and many more. Now with her own ensemble and her debut CD ‘Prudence’ selling hot off the shelves, the gifted jazz-ista is leading the pack with a fabulous performance to touch the hearts of everyone, and always ready for the jazz arena.

Modern mbira princess HOPE MASIKE has returned to Zimbabwe after travelling in the world and studying music in Norway, and brings with her a fresh sound with influences from all over, from which she creates exciting musical experiments, now with mbira crossing over into jazz. Backed by KAKUWE, (the backing group formed in their Zimbabwe College of Music days) she is popular and busy on the Harare music scene, delighting fans and growing audiences in the last few years. 

She has been a participating artists in regional collaborations such as UMOJA, and landed in Harare last year to perform with new-found friends from Mozambique and Sweden in the group MONOSWEZI. The ‘world’ group will perform again in Harare later this year. Hope released her debut CD ‘Hope’ in 2010, and her second CD ‘Hope, Love and Chocolate’ in 2012, both of which have received good airplay on national radio. She continues to deliver great performances both at home and abroad, to much acclaim.

JAZZ & WORLD MUSIC FESTIVAL PROGRAMME

BE BREAST AWARE THIS OCTOBER

Pour oil into my lamp too...

The FLAME workshop team was in Midlands on the 28th of September.  The workshop made possible by Culture Fund Zimbabwe was held at Midlands State University in partnership with MSU, National Arts Council, Gweru Office and Midlands Arts and Culture Festival.

Participants were drawn from the university, Kwekwe and Shurugwi with facilitators Tariro Wild-Fire Ruzvidzo and Theresa M Muchemwa dealing with:

0905    Image & Stagecraft – Tariro Ruzvidzo

1000    Dealing with Audiences, Musicians and Cast/Crews – Theresa Muchemwa

1100    Internet & Publicity – Tariro Ruzvidzo

1200    1300 HIV/Aids & the artist – Theresa Muchemwa

According to the discussions held, women artists in Gweru are taking supporting roles be it in theater, music or dance.  They haven't stepped up to venture into their own space where they can run productions, bands on their own. Training opportunities are almost non-existent and the majority of the participants welcomed this initiative to empower women artists across the country.

Ms M Parichi(Centre), Ms A Sibanda(NAC - far right)

Mr Viriri, Dean, Faculty of Arts at MSU

Participants take a dancing exercise

The last in the series of four workshops will be held in Murewa at the Murewa Culture Centre on the 25th of October, 2012.  FLAME will partner with the annual Murehwa Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe Cultural Festival (MUCUF) which is running from the 24-28 of October. 

By Batsirai Chigama

For Pamberi Trust