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).