SISTAZ OPEN MIC COMES OF AGE

It is with no doubt that Sistaz Open Mic, a performance platform for emerging women artists held every second Saturday of the month, has become the most popular space for women artists to grow their art in Harare.  This Saturday a host of established and emerging artists are expected to converge at the Book Café, 2-7pm as they celebrate seven years of mentorship, business arts workshops, performance opportunities and individual growth that has been witnessed from the platform over the years.

 

 Sistaz Open Mic owes it’s popularity to the fact that it is a guarded space, allowing women artists to even bring their children and that it is organised and run by a crew of women artists working with and associated with Pamberi Trust’s F.L.A.M.E(Female Literary, Arts & Music Enterprise) who are sensitive to the issues affecting their fellow sistaz.  Another encouraging thing is the continued support from established women artists such as Clare Nyakujara, DJ Naida, Patience Musa, Tariro NeGitare, Edith WeUtonga, Dudu Manhenga, Kessia Masona, Diana Samkange, Cynthia Mare, Tina Watyoka , Roxanne “Xapa” Mathazia, Cynthia “FlowChyld” Marangwanda, setting standards and mentoring the upcoming artists.

Rudo Chigudu performs at the16 Days Commemorations joined by daughter on stage:PAMBERI TRUST PHOTO

“Sistaz Open mic has had a strong impact on my music journey, and I value it as a performance platform.  People don’t realize that to improve as an artist, you just need to be able to perform in public, experiment with new music, meet and interact with other artists, professionals that you can learn from.  You don’t get that opportunity every day,”  said  Tariro NeGitare one of the many who have gone professional and is now mentoring  other young women artists.

Fatima Katiji with Tariro NeGitare

Started in 2007 by Pamberi Trust under the F.L.A.ME Project, Sistaz Open Mic has seen tremendous growth not only in attendance but great achievements by women artists who have used this platform to improve on their confidence, stage presence as well as branding themselves into formidable artists holding their own in a male-dominated industry.  The platform has since spread it’s wings across the country with performers coming from as far as Bulawayo, Chegutu, Zvishavane and Mutare.

Confirmed to perform is the 2013 Cross Music Roads Winners band Were,  Bulawayo-based poet Primrose Koketso Mpofu, Tracy “Pah Chihera” Mbirimi, Clare Nyakujara, Tariro NeGitare and two Jibilika Dance Crews.  Sistaz Open Mic welcomes Gary Tight, Munya Nyamarebvu – not new to the platform and Leonard Mapfumo for the first time ever, as brothers supporting sistaz.

Cindy Munyavi rocks the MIC at Sistaz Open Mic, Nov 2013: PAMBERI TRUST PHOTO

Cindy Munyavi popularly known as Cindy who has been working closely with the Open Mic the whole of 2012 will bring the curtain down on the birthday celebrations starting 530-7pm.

Prepared by Batsirai E Chigama
Gender Project Officer
Pamberi Trust