THE END OF 16 DAYS NOT THE END OF ACTIVISM

''Maintenance case loser attempts to stab wife."
"Hubby attacks wife with farming tools."
"Athlete's killer brother arrested."
"Woman brothel owner faces murder charge."
"Ugandan maid jailed." Jolly Tumihirwe (22) was caught on camera beating, kicking an 18-month old toddler.

Roughly a week after 16 Days of activism we continue to see headlines like this, a reflection that it's not over.  16 Days of Activism may be over but we continue to read reports of violations of human rights the world over and efforts must continue in whatever space or capacity to bring an end to these horrendous acts of violence that continue to plague our societies.

As FLAME we continue to explore how art can be used to bring social change, to work with artists who can add their voice against any form of violence bearing in mind that these are people coming from communities where they also may experience or encounter different forms of violence.

This year we had 17 events for the 16 Days of activism with a gender forum, theatre, ten musical shows, 4 film screenings and a poetry slam. 

All events were well attended with insightful discussions held especially after the film screenings. 
Among the films was 'Whistleblower' courtesy of the Embassy of Canada - The Whistleblower is a 2010 thriller film directed by Larysa Kondracki and starring Rachel Weisz. Kondracki and Eilis Kirwan wrote the screenplay, which was inspired by the story of Kathryn Bolkovac, a Nebraska police officer who was recruited as a United Nations peacekeeper for DynCorp International in post-war Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1999. While there, she discovered a sex trafficking ring serving (and facilitated by) DynCorp employees, with the UN SFOR turning a blind eye. Bolkovac was fired and forced out of the country after attempting to shut down the ring. She took the story to BBC News in England and won a wrongful-dismissal lawsuit against DynCorp.  A griping and complicated story, not the kind of story we hear often in this part of the world.

Other films shown include Ninah's Dowry courtesy of Women Film Makers of Zimbabwe, What's Love Got To do With It and Asylum courtesy of Women's University Gender & Development Studies Department.

This year saw the involvement of young women who utilised the Sistaz Open Mic platform to recite poetry and sing against gender violence.  Sistaz Open Mic, a daytime performance platform allows the involvement from all genres of art and from all ages and has been going strong in the past seven years.  The Sistaz Open Mic event was supported by One Billion Rising Revolution, Girls Legacy and Institute of Young Women's Development(IYWD).

Zimbabwe College of Music all-Female band at Sistaz Open Mic

The curtain came down on the 10th of December with the Human Rights Concert.  The event was graced by Canadian Ambassador, Lisa Stadelbauer.  

Canadian Ambassador, Lisa Stadelbauer giving her speech

Highlighting this year’s slogan for Human Rights Day is “Human Rights 365”, which encompasses the idea that every day is Human Rights Day, Ambassador Lisa Stadelbauer said Canada continues to partner with civil society organisations to develop a culture of human rights through the Canadian Fund for Local Initiatives support project to further freedom, human rights, good governance, and the rule of law in Zimbabwe, Angola and Botswana.

She profoundly quoted the United Nations, that the fundamental proposition in the Universal Declaration celebrates "that each one of us, everywhere, at all times is entitled to the full range of human rights, that human rights belong equally to each of us and bind us together as a global community with the same ideals and values."

The night was left to rising blues and neo-soul artist Raven, Prudence Katomeni-Mbofana and Hope Masike to speak in song.  We take this time to thank all the artists who came through to all the events and participated or supported in one way or another.

We also would like to thank our partners: Embassy of Canada, Culture Fund of Zimbabwe Trust, One Billion Rising,  Women Film Makers of Zimbabwe, Women Arts Festival(WAFEST), Girls Legacy, Institute of Young Women Development(IYWD) and WUA Gender Development Studies department for their support and making all the 16 Days events happen at the Book Café.

Prudence and Hope for Human Rights Day

Human Rights Concert marks end of 16 Days Programme at Book Cafe

Wed 10 Dec 2014, 8pm

Book Café, 139 S.Machel Ave, Harare

 

Throughout the world, Wednesday 10 December 2014 marks Human Rights Day, and in Harare, three exciting women artists of Zimbabwe come together to commemorate and celebrate its existence – one of Zim’s top jazz singers PRUDENCE KATOMENI and mbira princess HOPE MASIKE will occupy Book Café stage with back-to-back sets, opening with the emerging ‘RAVEN’ from 8pm.  A scintillating performance is expected! 

The event is the finale in the exciting programme for ‘16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence’, by Harare’s busy arts development organisation Pamberi Trust and its gender programme ‘FLAME’ (Female Literary, Arts and Music Enterprise) which has featured many women artists in music and poetry performances, discussions and films since November. 

 

The Human Rights Concert at Book Café on Wednesday 10 December is presented with kind support from the Embassy of Canada in Harare, and other project partners.

 

Women Artists for Human Rights

 

The three popular women artists were very keen to participate in the final event in the annual ’16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence’ programme at Book Café, joining women around the world in the long-running international campaign that starts on 25 November, International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and ends on 10 December, Human Rights Day - symbolically designated to emphasize that gender-based violence is a human rights violation.  (Read more at http://16dayscwgl.rutgers.edu).

 

PRUDENCE KATOMENI-MBOFANA is a household name in Zimbabwe, with a singing and acting career which blossomed in her teenage years.  Now an acclaimed performing and recording artist, wife and mother of four, she immediately agreed to perform in the Concert, saying “It is very important for us to participate in such commemorations, to make our voices heard on behalf of those who don’t have a voice, or don’t have a chance to voice their concerns”.

 

HOPE MASIKE - In the last few years Hope Masike has been travelling widely in the world, proudly representing Zimbabwe, and broadening her horizons, awareness and understanding.  At the time of writing she was in the middle of an eastern tour including China, Honk Kong and Malaysia (hard on the heels of a hectic US tour), but looking forward to getting back home to the Human Rights Concert. 

 

From her hotel room in Malaysia in the week before the show she said, “Rights are things we are allowed to do, to be or to have, by mere virtue of being human.  Much as they are all equally important, I'd like to talk about the right to participate in the cultural life of a community, the right to art, science and learning.  I am loving this one not only because it covers my field but also because our culture as a people or even as individuals is important and sets us apart from others.   Let us utilize this right by feeding our minds with as much art and culture as we can. I know of places were music is not allowed.  We are allowed to listen and to play any music we like, to choose the religion we prefer and so forth. Let us not deny our children their culture because of backward, colonial mind sets. There is a lot of wealth in the cultural heritage left for us. Let us all not watch while the true Zimbabwean/African, Ubuntu values die down. We have the right to it, all of it. If we fail to realize this, others will utilize it because they also have the right to it.”

 

Hope Masike: Photo by FUNGAIFOTO

RAVEN - The youngest artist, Raven (Ruvimbo Mapanda), who is emerging strongly on the local music scene, performing at Book Café and other venues, said “I feel honored to grace such a special occasion, where we have the chance to express ourselves about rights and freedoms [because] to take away a woman's freedom of choice - even her freedom to make a wrong choice - is to manipulate her as though she were a puppet and not a person.”  Raven quotes the late great poet Maya Angelou, saying “a bird doesn't sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song”.  Raven recently featured on a compilation CD for the special women's edition of the new magazine POVO with other Zimbabwean women (still to be released).

Raven

From Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, the 16 Days Campaign is a powerful platform to raise the call for an end to gender-based violence and to advocate for the full realization of human rights around the world.

 

In Harare, the Book Café will be buzzing once again, with dynamic performances by the three women on Wednesday 10 December in honour of Human Rights Day.

 

Universal Declaration of Human Rights - A Magna Carta for all humanity

Some 66 years have elapsed since the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the United Nations on 10 December 1948. The Declaration was one of the first major achievements of the United Nations, and still remains a powerful instrument which continues to exert an enormous effect on people's lives all over the world. This was the first time in history that a document considered to have universal value was adopted by an international organization. It was also the first time that human rights and fundamental freedoms were set forth in such detail, and has been described as "a world milestone in the long struggle for human rights".

The adoption of the Universal Declaration stems in large part from the strong desire for peace in the aftermath of the Second World War. Although the 58 Member States which formed the United Nations at that time varied in their ideologies, political systems and religious and cultural backgrounds and had different patterns of socio-economic development, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights represented a common statement of goals and aspirations - a vision of the world as the international community would want it to become.

The future of human rights lies in our hands. We must all act when human rights are violated. States as well as the individual must take responsibility for the realization and effective protection of human rights.   http://www.un.org/rights/50/carta.htm

In Zimbabwe, as stated in the information publication ‘Declaration of Rights’ by the Legal Resources Foundation, “The Declaration of Rights is a Chapter in the Constitution of Zimbabwe setting out the rights and freedoms which the people of Zimbabwe are entitled to.  The constitution is the supreme law of the country which sets out how the country is governed.  Human Rights are entitlements we have simply because of being human beings.  The rights listed in the Declaration of Rights are constitutional rights and are therefore legally protected.” 

                                                                                                                                                                                                          

SISTAZ SPEAK OUT AGAINST GENDER VIOLENCE

Harare’s Book Café, in association with arts development organisation Pamberi Trust’s gender project FLAME, once again joins the world to commemorate the global ‘16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence’ campaign. The programme which started on the 13 and 14 November with two strong presentations in association with the Women’s Arts Festival, continues this weekend with Sistaz Open Mic.  A daytime performance platform, Sistaz Open Mic allows the participation of women in the arts from dance, poetry, theatre, music and comedy.

This special “16 days Kick-Off” event features Mercy Dhliwayo (better known by her stage name, Xtreme Sanity), a slam poet, emcee and an emerging writer and photographer. Born in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, Xtreme started off as a rapper in 1997 and later branched off into poetry and spoken word in 2005 as a first year student at the University of Limpopo.  Xtreme has performed on various platforms which include, but are not limited to, the Intwasa Festival, the University of Limpopo Heritage Festivals, The Black Market Ace’s Annual Charity events; the Canimambo Free Form Musical Festival as well as various festivals hosted by Shindig Awe and the Fire on the Mountain Festival. She has also taken part in the SABC 2′s Lentswe Poetry Project competition in which, through her poem, Survival Techniques, she won under the HIV/AIDS Category in Limpopo Province (2007) and went on to represent the Limpopo Province under the same category at the national level of the competition (2008).

Mercy Dhliwayo
She has further featured in the Black Markets PLK Hip Hop Mixtape (2006); Face the Music Hip hop Timeless Mixtape (2007), the Essential Words (2011), the Shindig Awe: Have we put out the fire Compilation (2012) and the African Fem MC’s Mixtape (2012).  Apart from recordings, her poetry has been published in the Have We Put out The fire Journal, and in the Sunday News newspaper as well as online. Apart from being a poet and an emcee, Xtreme also writes short stories.

Over the years Sistaz Open Mic has worked closely worked with the College of Music students who utilize the stage to gain confidence and work on their stagecraft.  This Saturday there will be a special appearance by an all-female College of Music band, Eve Kawadza as well as many other exciting artists.

The Open Mic will be followed shortly at 530pm by Caroleen Masawi now known as MASA.  MASA is a fast rising afro-soul, jazz artist whose songs traverse between genres of rock and neo-soul.  Masa started performing a year and a half ago on the FLAME platform, and has had the privilege of sharing the stage with musicians such Pablo Nakapa, Edith Weutonga, Rute Mbangwa, Eve Kawadza and Tina Watyoka. Her inspiration is drawn from social issues, family and love.

MASA
She performed at this year’s edition of the Italian Music Festival “Musica” where she shared the stage with extremely talented Italian guitarist Andrea Valeri.   She also opened for Oliver Mutukudzi and Tariro neGitare at the Alliance Francoise recently backed by the Sunsets Jazz Band.  MASA has a song “Pamusoroi” which ties in with the 16 days of activism against Gender Based violence.

16 Days events will continue culminating to the 16 Days Human Rights Concert at the Book Café on the 10^th of December.

F.L.A.M.E Rolls Out 16 Days Events

From Peace in the Home to Peace in the World:

Book Café rolls out ‘16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence’ programme

Book Café, Thursday 13 and Friday 14 November 2014

“…violence against women is never acceptable, never excusable, never tolerable.” – Bank Ki-Moon, Secretary-General to the United Nations

Harare’s Book Café, in association with arts development organisation Pamberi Trust’s gender project FLAME, once again unleashes a vivid programme to commemorate the global ‘16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence’ campaign, starting off early this year on 13 and 14 November with two strong presentations in association with the Women’s Arts Festival, and ending on 10 December.
 

Since 2007 Pamberi Trust has been coordinating the annual campaign at the Book Café, and now in its seventh year the programme continues to excite and inspire, with music and poetry events, workshops, discussions and film screenings, closing on 10 December with the annual Human Rights Concert.  The programme joins thousands of activists from around the world in a call for an end to gender-based violence and more substantial responses on the part of governments to act with due diligence in protecting and preventing gender-based violence.

The Book Café programme starts on Thursday 13 November at 5.30pm, when the Women’s Arts Festival presents an early evening discussion, in association with the Sally Women’s Institute, ‘How To Achieve Lasting Peace For Women’ including performances by Edith Katiji and Emelia Patrick. Presentations from policy experts, grassroots leaders and media will interrogate the legal strategies in place around the status, rights and security of women in Zimbabwe, looking at pressing threats to women’s security, exploring ways in which to strengthen the state’s response to gender-based violence, and what real peace means to women. 

 

In the afternoon of Friday 14 November starting at 2pm on the Book Cafe Garden Stage, Women’s Arts Festival presents ‘MOTHERS’ a two-woman play performed by Sarah Mpofu–Sibanda and Musa Sibanda, and directed by Thembi Ngwabi.  ‘Mothers’ is the story of Mira, a woman who gets caught up by her past.  The play is full of unexpected twists and suspense.  The play is presented by Women in Theatre and Nhimbe Trust.

Other events follow on from Sistaz Open Mic on 22 November, through to 10 December, Human Rights Day.  Watch the press for details.

About the 16 Days Campaign

For the past twenty-three years, the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence Campaign has been dedicated to advocacy and coordination of work in support of ending gender-based violence at the local and international levels. The dates, November 25 (International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) and December 10 (Human Rights Day), were chosen to emphasize the links between ending gender-based violence and human rights values and highlight that gender-based violence is an international human rights violation.

The 16 Days Campaign is used as an organizing strategy to call for the elimination of all forms of gender-based violence by individuals and groups throughout the world.                              

Positioning the 16 Days Campaign from November 25 (International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) and December 10 (Human Rights Day) rightfully stresses that gender-based violence is an international human rights violation.

Integral to a world free of gender-based violence where all are able to experience freedom from fear and want is, in part, the recognition of the indivisibility of human rights, and that women’s rights are human rights.

From Peace in the Home to Peace in the World: Let’s Challenge Militarism and End Gender-Based Violence!

The culture of militarism builds on and protects systems of power by controlling dissent and using violence to settle economic, political and social disputes. Militarism draws on and perpetuates patriarchal models of political, economic, and social domination of people by a small number of elites and privileges violent masculinity as acceptable behavior.

 

The 16 Days Campaign focus on the intersections of gender-based violence and militarism is an effort to work toward a more equitable and peaceful world.

 

Within the contexts of the intersections of gender-based violence, militarism, and economic and social rights, and being mindful of the work of campaigners worldwide, the global 16 Days Campaign has identified three priority areas for the 2014 Campaign:

o       Violence Perpetrated by State Actors

o       Proliferation of Small Arms in Cases of Intimate Partner Violence

o       Sexual Violence During and After Conflict

The intersectionality of age, class, gender, geographic location, race/ethnicity, religious affiliation, sexual orientation among other categories of analysis inform the ways in which women experience and respond to violence, inequality, and discrimination. They also affect the ways in which communities and the States respond since States’ relations with the people are mediated in part through the above categories.

(See more at www.16dayscwgl.rutgers.edu)

___________________________

ENDS

By Penny Yon

A BEFITTING CELEBRATION - THE LIFE OF PAUL BRICKHILL

Saturday 11, was emotional as one after the other, participants paid tribute to Paul Brickhill, founder of the Book Café at the Sistaz Open Mic.

Guest of Honour at the event, Patience Musa, gave a touching speech, "The story of my life would not be complete without mentioning Paul Brickhill," Patience said.  She went on to narrate on her experience at the Mannenberg as well as the old Book Café saying many never knew who Paul was until the passed away because of his humbleness.

Boniface Mavengeni, father to mbira hopeful Tendai Mavengeni said, "Thumps up to the organisers and all who performed @ Paul's Tribute. It was very emotional celebration of Paul's life. Well I must be very honest such platforms like the Sistaz open Mic are hard to come by. Paul made life easy for a lot of upcoming artists."

The Sistaz Open Mic which is mostly restricted to women artists was on the day open to brothers supporting sistaz and saw many performing, the likes of Kessia Magosha, Tendai Mavengeni, Eve Kawadza, Patience Musa, Ba Shupi, Bryan Kandengu, Tendex Mudzviti, Vera, D-Blok, RedRuffRider, Ammi Jamanda just to mention a few.  The celebrations continued with Emilia Patrick taking to the stage to close the show.

Vera and D-Blok



Tendex Madzviti

Patience Musa

Zaza Muchemwa(MC)

Leonard Matsa with Sandra Mlambo

Carmen Hwarari-Mutengo with Rudo Chakanyuka

Bryan Kandengu

Francesca Mandeya

Vera

Tendai Mavengeni

Ndebele Sisters

PAUL BRICKHILL - A LIFE WELL LIVED

Book Café proprietor and liberation war veteran Paul Brickhill has died aged 56. He was diagnosed with cancer in July this year and passed away on 3 October in Johannesburg. Comrade Brickhill was born in 1958 and grew up in Harare during the period in which the liberation war was intensifying rapidly. He refused to serve in the Rhodesian army and escaped from the country to join the liberation struggle in 1976. He joined ZAPU in exile and immediately volunteered to serve in ZPRA, in whose ranks his elder brother, Jeremy, was already serving. During his service in ZPRA intelligence he undertook many dangerous undercover operations and was a fearless revolutionary cadre.  

 

Following independence in 1980 he began his life-long career promoting culture in Zimbabwe, founding the country’s first progressive bookshop – Grassroots Books – in 1981 and subsequently its associated sister publishing company, Anvil Press. Together with his first wife, Pat Brickhill, he played a leading role in developing Zimbabwean publishing and bookselling. He was elected Chairperson of the Zimbabwe Book Publishers Association in 1991 and served on the Board of the Zimbabwean International Book Fair for the following ten years. Together with colleagues in other African countries he co-founded the two major African publishing organisations - the African Publishers Network (APNET) and the Pan-African Booksellers Association.

At the same time, Paul pursued his own personal journey as a musician, establishing a series of bands during the 1980’s, including the popular Solidarity Band, which featured several young musicians who were destined to find fame as the Bhundu Boys. Paul’s saxophone travelled across the whole country in those years, most usually to be found in the poorer working class township pubs and clubs. In later years he and legendary jazz guitarist David Ndoro founded Luck Street Blues, playing almost 1000 live shows in the years 1995-2005.

 Paul, and his brother Jeremy, also played an important role during these years supporting ANC and Umkhonto we Sizwe operations launched from Zimbabwe, hosting ANC cadres and providing logistical support to the South African liberation struggle. Their activities led to the car bomb attack on Jeremy Brickhill by apartheid agents in 1987. Apartheid agents later confessed that they had been confused by the identities and tactics of the two brothers and were not sure which one to attack first.

 In 1997 Paul expanded the original Grassroots Books concept into a multi-dimensional artistic vision involving music, theatre, film, literature, poetry, art and craft and thus was born the world famous Book Café. Since then the Book Café has nurtured and promoted music and the arts under Paul Brickhill’s inspired leadership. Together with its sister organisation, Pamberi Trust, the Book Café has hosted over ten thousand shows and events, launched dozens of new artists, promoted Zimbabwean and African music, literature and poetry, provided a venue for topical and political dialogue and become a much loved and iconic beacon of artistic freedom and excellence.

In 2011 Paul Brickhill received a NAMA Award for “services to the arts” and in 2012 he was awarded a Prince Klaus Award by the Government of the Netherlands in recognition of his role in establishing the Book Café and his own life-long commitment to promoting the arts. Just last week he received the Artwatch Africa Lifetime Achievement Award on the opening night of the Shoko Festival in Harare.

Paul is survived by his brother, fellow war veteran Jeremy Brickhill, his first wife Pat and his second wife Jennifer, and his four children Tomas, Liam, Amy and Declan.

 Mourners are gathered at 6 Durban Road, Avondale, Harare. Funeral arrangements will be announced shortly.

AMAWALA SHINES AT THE BOOK CAFE

AMAWALA - GENDER LANDMARK PRODUCTION 2014

AMAWALA!  (Those that Shine) 

AMAWALA is a vibrant collaboration between leading women artists of Zimbabwe from diverse musical backgrounds: RUTE MBANGWA (jazz), EDITH weUTONGA (contemporary traditional), and TINA WATYOKA (afro-pop), backed by some of Zim's gifted instrumentalists.

 

With each of the women already established in the music industry and well known names in Zimbabwe, ‘Amawala’ is a unique collaboration fuelled by a strong sense of unity and mutual respect.  Their differences make them stronger together, and the energy between them is electric!

 

In June 2014 the three artists – who for some years have been supporters and participants of the popular programme for women artists – jumped onto the stage at the monthly Sistaz Open Mic at Book Café in Harare, and delivered an exhilarating impromptu performance together for the first time ever, which sparked a unique energy which grabbed the audience attention, and brought to the fore the best in each of them.

 

After a first ‘official’ joint performance at Book Café on 31 July 2014 under the adopted name ‘AMAWALA’ (Those that Shine), the three women will now continue the collaboration, supported by the gender project FLAME (Female Literary Arts & Media Enterprise) of Pamberi Trust, one of Zimbabwe’s widest reaching arts development organisations.  Amawala is scheduled to perform two shows at the Book Café, Friday 29 August and Saturday 13 September setting up for their debut appearance at Intwasa Arts Festival(Bulawayo) on Saturday 27 September.

Pamberi Trust exists to facilitate the arts, and along with programmes for youth, gender and freedom of expression, one of it’s missions is “Re-linking Communities through Culture”. 

 

RUTE MBANGWA

 

Rute Mbangwa is a 1998 graduate from Children Performing Arts Workshop CHIPAWO, who is now a renowned and seasoned jazz artist in Zimbabwe, performing with her own backing band as well as with many other artists along the way.

 
In 1998 and joined in the formation of the young group Another Tribe, before moving on to do backing vocals with popular Township Jazz musician Tanga wekwa Sando, with whom she gained much experience during studio work and live performances around the country.

Rute Mbangwa performas with AMAWALA on July 31, 3014: FOTO BY BE CHIGAMA

 Towards the end of 2003, she worked with the group Africa Revenge as backing vocalist. In 2004 she recorded an eight-track album with Jazz Sensation, entitled If Only My Heart Had a Voice which she composed, arranged and produced.  Mbangwa released her second album in 2007, entitled Rute Goes Kumanginde which exhibited her versatility, creativity and innovation and that she had matured since the first album.

 

Recently she was one of the winners for the composition of the theme song for the United Nations World Travel Organization, and she’s an active participant in the Pamberi Trust FLAME programme since it was established in 2006.

Rute is also a busy family and businesswoman, but manages to stay true to her first love – music.

 

EDITH weUTONGA

 

Edith Katiji was born in the small Zimbabwean town of Kadoma in 1979, the first in a family of 5 children.  After completing her secondary education, she pursued music with the Army School of Music in Zimbabwe’s second city of Bulawayo, where she started off as a vocalist with the Army Band and soon moved on to the city’s famed Amakhosi Cultural Centre ‘Township Square’. 

 
Here she honed her musical talent by joining a 6-month musical instruments crash course for women musicians at Amakhosi, supported by Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA). This gave birth to the all female band from Amakhosi called Amakhosikazi [‘Queens’!] where Edith started off as composer and lead vocalist for the band, and later discovered her passion for the bass guitar.

Edith WeUtonga

The band performed at various private and national events, and when they disbanded in mid-2006, Edith found herself in the deep end as bassist in a new band she formed from the remnants of Amakhosikazi, called ‘So What?!’, and once again Edith assumed the mantle of songwriting and band coordination and management.

 

The group relocated to Harare and joined the live music circuit at many of the popular city centre venues including the famous Book Café and Mannenberg, The Kraal, Jazz 105 and Sports Diner.  In 2008 So What?! went through some changes after a few key members left for greener pastures as the economic situation in the country worsened.  The new, rather depleted version of So What?! continued to meet their music commitments – until Edith’s near fatal car accident in July 2009 where she sustained serious head and facial injuries, from which she thankfully made a full recovery in time.
 
UTONGA – A New Dawn

During her recovery, Edith had discovered a new sound within herself.  She felt that her scrape with death, followed shortly afterwards by the birth of her second son, presented her with a new beginning in life. She began to write new material with more meaning and depth.

 She called the new sound ‘Utonga’, meaning ‘dawn’ and re-branded herself and her band as EDITH weUTONGA [‘Edith of Dawn’].  The band worked hard in and around Harare with almost no resources, performing the new material, to warm appreciation from audiences. 

 

Besides regular commercial shows, Edith weUtonga have performed at corporate and private events, and for numerous NGO's including Norwegian People's Aid, Young Voices Network, Crisis Coalition, ZimRights, Women’s Action Group and Pamberi Trust. 

 

They have participated in most of the major festivals in Zimbabwe over the last few years, including the Harare International Festival of the Arts, Winter and Summer Jazz Festivals, the Pakare Paye Solo Festival (alongside Zimbabwean superstar Oliver Mtukudzi), Chimanimani Arts Festival, Intwasa and Ibumba Arts Festivals, and the International Images Film Festival.

 

Edith is a major contributor to the FLAME gender programme by arts development organisation Pamberi Trust in Harare, performing in special events for the promotion of women artists, representing women artists on various discussion and activism platforms including ’16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence’, the rollout of the ‘Non-Violence Toolkit’, and facilitating workshops ‘For Women Artists By Women Artists’ in different parts of the country.

 

Beyond the borders of Zimbabwe she has performed at the Blankets & Wine Festival in Kenya (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KT2CCn8fA-Q); The Tilapia and The Sheraton in Uganda in 2012 and 2013, and in collaboration with Indian artists at the Latin Food Festival and Royal Orchid Hotel in Bangalore, India in 2013.

Edith still carries a huge responsibility, as the ‘matriarch’ of the group, playing the role of songwriter, lead singer, bassist, coordinator and administrator for the band, with a wider management role played by her husband, Elton Mjanana who is himself a busy filmmaker.
 

Edith Katiji has risen in the ranks of Zimbabwe’s musicians against overwhelming odds, and is ready to move forward and upward, blessed with a strong work ethic, exceptional leadership qualities and a deep commitment to her music and the artists of her band.

 

TINA WATYOKA

 Young Zimbabwean singer, composer, and musician, the lively and gifted young artist TINA WATYOKA has determinedly and doggedly pursued music from a young age, completing the National Certificate in Music, learning, playing, forming a band, building an audience and performing widely in Harare up to the present, and recording her debut album ‘Introducing Tina’ in 2010, which received good airplay in Zimbabwe.

 

While studying, writing and producing her own music, she also has worked with other acclaimed artists of Zimbabwe over the years, among them the late mbira star Chiwoniso Maraire, a tour with the late Taku Mafika to Europe in 2010, Harare International Festival of the Arts in 2012 with both Busi Ncube (now based in Europe), and the widely acclaimed Zimbabwean poet Comrade Fatso & Chabvondoka¸ and with her own music collaboration at Mozambican Independence Day, Chimoio in 2013.

Tina Watyoka

 She’s notably been featured on many occasions at the Book Café, Harare’s popular hub which attracts people from all over Harare to a diverse music programme. At Book Café over the last few years she has performed solo and in collaborations with many other young artists, performed regularly in the monthly Sistaz Open Mic platform and achieved a Tuesday night slot for many weeks, participated in workshops for the development women artists, and the annual ’16 Days Programme’ of Activism against Gender-based Violence by Pamberi Trust, along with dozens of other women artists. 

 

Still performing in Harare and the small city of Gweru (with a uni-band), Tina is now studying for an Honours degree in Music & Musicology at Midlands State University, which she is finding an eye-opener in terms of exposure. She performed for the President of Zimbabwe for the first time at MSU Graduation Ceremonies of 2013.

 

Tina launched her exciting second album, ‘Ndoita Sei?’ at Book Café on 27 February 2014.  Special guests at the launch were be star artists Victor Kunonga and Alexio Kawara, who she names among her mentors.

 

The three women are supported by some of Zimbabwe's brilliants instrumentalists as follows:

 

Paplo Nakappa on Bass

Frank Mavhimira on Lead

Lloyd Chidikano Drums

Christopher Fefini on Keys

Vagina Monologues Writer to Visit Zimbabwe

Eve Ensler, Tony Award winning playwright, performer, activist, author of The Vagina Monologues and founder of the international One Billion Rising movement, arrives in Zimbabwe this week to engage with grassroots women leaders and organisations working on issues pertaining to ending violence against women.

The Vagina Monologues was first produced as a play in 1996. It consists of a number of monologues that explore issues that women deal with on a day to day basis in a frank, matter-of-fact manner. The monologues touch on issues such as menstruation, masturbation, sex, rape, birth and orgasm. The overall theme is that of reclaiming the vagina as tool for empowerment and as a part of the body that women should not be ashamed of.

The monologues have been translated into over 48 languages and performed in over 140 countries, including here in Zimbabwe.

In 1998 Ensler spearheaded the formation of V-Day, a non-profit organisation that has raised millions of dollars for women’s anti-violence groups around the world. V-Day organises the annual One Billion Rising event where tens of thousands of men and women all over the world express their stand against gender-based violence through dance.

On her Zimbabwe visit, Ensler will be accompanied by V-Day director, Monique Wilson, who is also an internationally renowned women’s activist.  Wilson is a member of Gabriela – a national alliance of grassroots women’s organizations in the Philippines, and is the Director of International Affairs of the Gabriela Women’s Party. She is also the international spokesperson for the Purple Rose Campaign aimed at ending the sex trafficking of Filipino women and children.

Speaking about her trip to Zimbabwe Ensler said; “We are excited about this trip because we have heard about all the amazing work that Women’s organisations are doing in Zimbabwe. We are hoping to use this opportunity to learn more about women’s issues in the country and to meet with some of the tireless grassroots women leaders.”

She said they were also hoping to meet with One Billion Rising Organisers in Zimbabwe to plan for the 2015 edition of the movement.  They were also hoping to bring the issues and context of women in Zimbabwe onto a global platform.

ENDS
Exist Digital

SISTAZ OPEN MIC ROCKS

Saturday 12 July saw the return of a number of women artists who had taken a break from the platform, Eve Kawadza as guest musician, Linda Gabriel(guest poet), Nancy Mutize and Faith Ganyau.  It is also amazing how the brothers are coming to support the sisters on stage.

In June we saw the birth of the SUPERBAND, a band formed at the open mic with the likes of Rute Mbangwa, Tina Watyoka, Edith WeUtonga backed by Pablo Nakappa on bass, Frank Mavhimira on lead, Jack on drums and Jack on keys.  The SUPERBAND regrouped again and put up a spirited performance.  They now have two shows lined up at the Book Café, dates to be announced soon.

Caroleen Masawi now known as Masa made her debut appearance at the Book Café with an out-of-this-world performance.  Jazzy and soul-ish Masa is the future.  We are honoured to have hosted her debut show ever as Masa at the Sistaz Open Mic.

Alice Chinya: PHOTO BY COLLEN MAGOBEYA

Eve Kawadza: PHOTO BY COLLEN MAGOBEYA

Faith Ganyau: PHOTO BY COLLEN MAGOBEYA

Linda Gabriel: PHOTO BY COLLEN MAGOBEYA

Mazvita "Younique" Gwangwadza: PHOTO BY COLLEN MAGOBEYA

Nancy Mutize: PHOTO BY COLLEN MAGOBEYA

SUPERBAND: PHOTO BY COLLEN MAGOBEYA

Wanai Ndudzo: PHOTO BY COLLEN MAGOBEYA