The Sunday Mail
Andrew Moyo
Event and artiste management company Ngoma NeHosho will give music fans something to cheer about on International Jazz Day on Friday when they present the inaugural Jabulani Jazz Festival.
While this edition will be a virtual event due to Covid-19, organisers say it will be held annually.
“The inaugural edition will be a virtual one because of the current pandemic; however, we plan to make this an annual event that will carry on as a hybrid festival,” said Ngoma Nehosho founder Walter Wanyanya.
“This year’s edition will air online on Friday the 30th of April, which is International Jazz Day.”
The organisers have partnered with UNESCO, Hyundai Zimbabwe, Old Mutual and CredSure to rope in young local talent.
“With the help and assistance of UNESCO in partnership with Hyundai Zimbabwe, Old Mutual and Credsure, the Jabulani Jazz Festival will feature three young musicians – Sylent Nqo, TakaNeMachinda and Mimmie Tarukwana.”
This becomes the second festival created by Ngoma Nehosho, having hosted the Jacaranda Music Festival for the past four years.
Besides local gigs, the company has held many events in other countries, including South Africa and Zambia.
They have done shows with Lady Smith Black Mambazo, the late Hugh Masekela, Oliver Mtukudzi, Joss Stone, Victor Kunonga, Ammara Brown, Micasa, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Ringo, James Sakala and Black Motion.
Meanwhile, Ngoma NeHosho will today host virtual artiste development workshops for musicians, music managers, music producers and other industry players.
“We believe education and sharing of knowledge among creatives plays a key role in growing our creative economy in Zimbabwe,” said Wanyanya.
“The panel of speakers include booking agents, festival directors, jazz artist managers and media practitioners from South Africa, Zimbabwe, USA, Spain and Senegal.
“This is an opportunity for artistes to ask questions about how they can improve their craft and get more information on the entertainment industry as a whole.”
There will be two sessions: the first one being a financial education workshop facilitated by Kudzai Mubaiwa from Old Mutual, which starts at 1pm on the Ngoma NeHosho Facebook page.
The UNESCO Creative Community Workshop in partnership with Credsure will be the second workshop of the day, which is themed “Gateway to the Global Stage and Growing the Creative Economy”.
Speaking at the workshops will be National Arts Council of Zimbabwe deputy director Josiah Kusena, A&R Manager Sony ATV Music Publishing Africa Munya Chanetsa, Mokoomba’s manager Marcus Gora, Music Works International founder and director Katherine McVicker (USA) and Youssou Ndour’s manager Dudu Sarr (Senegal), among others.
