Tuesday 22 September 2009
Inspired Fungisai saves the day: Web
http://www.newzimbabwe.com/showbiz-976-Fungisai.%20Remember%20the%20name!/showbiz.aspx
Fungisai shines
14/09/2009 00:00:00
by Michael Chipato
IF OLIVER Mtukudzi is the greatest recording male musician in Zimbabwe, tick the box for Fungisai Zvakavapano as the most outstanding female performer of our generation. Seriously.
It was fitting then that the two stars shared a stage at the Motherland Zimbabwe festival in Redditch, Birmingham, last Saturday – Fungisai’s first ever live performance in the United Kingdom.
The queen of Zimbabwean gospel music was easily the diamond-headed arrow of the day in-between great performances by Mtukudzi and the energetic Albert Nyathi.
Fungisai had the crowd of just over a thousand people eating out of the palm of her hand as she reeled hit after hit, the adulation rising with every majestically delivered verse and every hip movement.
Her performance of the track Mukadzi Munhu raised vital issues in the contemporary gender debate.
And the crowd, basking under the unrelenting sunshine, swayed in unison as Fungisai methodically confirmed her place as a gospel and beyond stage queen.
The great Oliver Mtukudzi, winding down his five-gig UK tour, delivered a flawless performance capped by the most dramatic dance routines he has ever attempted on a stage.
Mtukudzi burst onto the stage as Albert Nyathi was completing his set, and to the sound of Maqhinga Radebe’s maskandi guitar and drums expertly played by Black Spirits drummer Sam Mataure, the 55-year-old rolled back the years with some fancy footwork which whipped the crowd into frenzy.
The festival, organised by the Motherland Zimbabwe charity, is now set to become a permanent fixture on the UK entertainment calendar.
The Heritage Survival kicked off the musical celebration with their traditional Chimurenga flavoured performances. Zimbabwe-born Flava from Middlesbrough unleashed lyrical poetics in smooth kwaito style, proving the wealth and depth of Zimbabwean talent.
Afro Faces graced the stage with their energetic dance routines. Jazz maestro Paul Lunga put up a polished display.
In true festival-style, the day passed off with a wide range of activities for children, all types of Zimbabwean dishes and business exhibitions. Amongst the exhibitors were the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority and Air Zimbabwe.
Meanwhile, Fungisai fans get a second opportunity to watch her in action on Saturday at Birmingham’s Botanical Gardens. She will share the stage with Shingisai Suluma of the Gogodza fame. (Click Here for more information or call 07946260963).
by Michael Chipato
IF OLIVER Mtukudzi is the greatest recording male musician in Zimbabwe, tick the box for Fungisai Zvakavapano as the most outstanding female performer of our generation. Seriously.
It was fitting then that the two stars shared a stage at the Motherland Zimbabwe festival in Redditch, Birmingham, last Saturday – Fungisai’s first ever live performance in the United Kingdom.
The queen of Zimbabwean gospel music was easily the diamond-headed arrow of the day in-between great performances by Mtukudzi and the energetic Albert Nyathi.
Fungisai had the crowd of just over a thousand people eating out of the palm of her hand as she reeled hit after hit, the adulation rising with every majestically delivered verse and every hip movement.
Her performance of the track Mukadzi Munhu raised vital issues in the contemporary gender debate.
And the crowd, basking under the unrelenting sunshine, swayed in unison as Fungisai methodically confirmed her place as a gospel and beyond stage queen.
The great Oliver Mtukudzi, winding down his five-gig UK tour, delivered a flawless performance capped by the most dramatic dance routines he has ever attempted on a stage.
Mtukudzi burst onto the stage as Albert Nyathi was completing his set, and to the sound of Maqhinga Radebe’s maskandi guitar and drums expertly played by Black Spirits drummer Sam Mataure, the 55-year-old rolled back the years with some fancy footwork which whipped the crowd into frenzy.
The festival, organised by the Motherland Zimbabwe charity, is now set to become a permanent fixture on the UK entertainment calendar.
The Heritage Survival kicked off the musical celebration with their traditional Chimurenga flavoured performances. Zimbabwe-born Flava from Middlesbrough unleashed lyrical poetics in smooth kwaito style, proving the wealth and depth of Zimbabwean talent.
Afro Faces graced the stage with their energetic dance routines. Jazz maestro Paul Lunga put up a polished display.
In true festival-style, the day passed off with a wide range of activities for children, all types of Zimbabwean dishes and business exhibitions. Amongst the exhibitors were the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority and Air Zimbabwe.
Meanwhile, Fungisai fans get a second opportunity to watch her in action on Saturday at Birmingham’s Botanical Gardens. She will share the stage with Shingisai Suluma of the Gogodza fame. (Click Here for more information or call 07946260963).
Inspired Fungisai saves the day
Inspired Fungisai saves the day
To the rescue ... Fungisai Zvakavapano on stage last Saturday
http://www.newzimbabwe.com/showbiz-1020-Inspired+Fungisai+saves+the+day/showbiz.aspx
22/09/2009 00:00:00
by Michael Chipato
FUNGISAI Zvakavapano brought down the UK summer entertainment curtain as she again pulled her elastic and premium best before a sizeable crowd in Birmingham last Saturday.
Fungisai saved the day after the top-billed Shingisai Suluma failed to get her visa in time.
Mystery in Stone and Birmingham Botanical Gardens hosted an array of artists including Obert Mazivisa who put in an energetic performance and the rhumba-gospel singer Jayne Doka.
But Fungisai, dubbed the queen of Zimbabwean gospel music, wiped the tears off Shingisai’s disappointed fans with an inspired show.
The serene Botanical Gardens were a perfect backdrop to Fungisai’s soothing gospel melodies that transformed the garden into an Edenic atmosphere.
The diversity of the living Zimbabwean musical museum was unveiled in all its forms and gospel flavours. The work of sculpture on exhibition and the music combined to present a pregnant package of Zimbabwean art.
But the family day show, a third in three consecutive weeks after Zimfest and Motherland Zimbabwe shows, was hit hard by low attendance attributed to ticket prices which some found exorbitant for a family gospel show.
The biggest victor though was Fungisai, who returned to Zimbabwe on Sunday leaving behind an ardent league of new fans.
Fungisai wowed fans last week as a supporting act to Oliver Mtukudzi during the Motherland Zimbabwe festival also held in Birmingham. She was then roped in as a supporting act to the United States-based Shingisai who was, however, foiled by delays in issuing her a visa.
Saturday's show was hosted by the former Radio 2 DJ Eric Knight.
To the rescue ... Fungisai Zvakavapano on stage last Saturday
http://www.newzimbabwe.com/showbiz-1020-Inspired+Fungisai+saves+the+day/showbiz.aspx
22/09/2009 00:00:00
by Michael Chipato
FUNGISAI Zvakavapano brought down the UK summer entertainment curtain as she again pulled her elastic and premium best before a sizeable crowd in Birmingham last Saturday.
Fungisai saved the day after the top-billed Shingisai Suluma failed to get her visa in time.
Mystery in Stone and Birmingham Botanical Gardens hosted an array of artists including Obert Mazivisa who put in an energetic performance and the rhumba-gospel singer Jayne Doka.
But Fungisai, dubbed the queen of Zimbabwean gospel music, wiped the tears off Shingisai’s disappointed fans with an inspired show.
The serene Botanical Gardens were a perfect backdrop to Fungisai’s soothing gospel melodies that transformed the garden into an Edenic atmosphere.
The diversity of the living Zimbabwean musical museum was unveiled in all its forms and gospel flavours. The work of sculpture on exhibition and the music combined to present a pregnant package of Zimbabwean art.
But the family day show, a third in three consecutive weeks after Zimfest and Motherland Zimbabwe shows, was hit hard by low attendance attributed to ticket prices which some found exorbitant for a family gospel show.
The biggest victor though was Fungisai, who returned to Zimbabwe on Sunday leaving behind an ardent league of new fans.
Fungisai wowed fans last week as a supporting act to Oliver Mtukudzi during the Motherland Zimbabwe festival also held in Birmingham. She was then roped in as a supporting act to the United States-based Shingisai who was, however, foiled by delays in issuing her a visa.
Saturday's show was hosted by the former Radio 2 DJ Eric Knight.
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Michael Chipato
Media and Social Consultant
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Backing vocalist for Alick Macheso in Liecester with Mike
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Macheso crew in Liecester 2008
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Mike and Chioneso Maraire in Birmingham 08
About Me
- Michael Chipato
- Birmingham, West Midlands, United Kingdom
- Michael Chipato is a social and development scientist currently living in Birmingham.Over the years issues pertaining social inequalities, dictatorship, political oppression and gender disparities have been his research focus.As an artist, journalist and academic Michael's philosophy of life is greatly influenced by Léopold Sédar Senghor (9 October 1906 – 20 December 2001) ... a Senegalese poet, politician, and cultural theorist who served as the first president of Senegal (1960–1980). Senghor was the first African to sit as a member of the Académie française. He was also the founder of the political party called the Senegalese Democratic Bloc. He is regarded by many as one of the most important African intellectuals of the 20th century. Senghor created the concept of Négritude, an important intellectual movement that sought to assert and to valorize what they believed to be distinctive African characteristics, values, and aesthetics..He does not condone oppression and violence in any shape or form.
Michael Chipato
Michael interviews Lord Mayor in Birmingham
Zimbabweans hang in the balance
