The Sunday Mail
RED Rose Entertainment boss Barbara Chikosi is making a bold statement by resuscitating concepts that she had shelved over the years.
Chikosi aka Mai Red Rose is in cruising mode, and is stopping at nothing. Buoyed by the success of the April 29 “Together as One” concert that was headlined by Jamaican artiste Chris Martin, the promoter will on May 28 revive the “Gospel Divas Concert”, which stopped in 2009.
Top South African artiste Rebecca Malope who interestingly headlined the last edition of the event is expected to once again lead the concert, which will be held at the popular Harare Gardens.
The fifth edition of the “Gospel Divas Concert” is going to be held as a belated Mother’s Day commemoration while at the same time celebrating Malope’s 30-year musical career that started in 1986.
Apart from the gospel concert that will feature the likes of Olivia Charamba, Amanda Sagonda, Agatha Murudzwa, Carol Mujokoro, Irene Tigere, Olinda Marova-Ziwenga, Bethany Pasinawako-Ngolomi, Sharon Manyonganise, Joice Simeti, Hannah Chikosi-Mapepeta and Rumbi Zvirikuzhe; the revered promoter will also later this year re-introduce the “Mbira Festival”.
The traditional music event was part of her annual programmes that catered for a unique clientele.
The event used to host more than 50 mbira ensembles from around the country.
Groups like Mbira dzeNharira, Mawungura eNharira, Kunzwana Mbira Group and Matemai Mbira Group featured prominently on the event. In an interview, Mai Red Rose simply indicated that more is still to come.
“The idea is to cater for neglected audiences.
We have a few family events on our showbiz calendar and these events are meant for them.
This is the reason why you notice the Harare Gardens gig will be starting exactly at 10am,” she said.
“We are reviving our concepts that had gone into hibernation while at the same time introducing new ones though with a bias towards the family.”
. . . What they said
Partson Chimbodza (Chipaz Promotions):
She is a hardworking and principled lady, and the way she does her promotions is excellent, I actually emulate her.
Music promotion is a big gamble but she is the longest serving promoter and given a chance I would give her an award for helping raise standards in the local music industry.
It is my wish that one day we have a joint show so that I can learn a thing or two from this great promoter. Mama Red Rose, keep it up.
Suluman Chimbetu (musician):
Mama Red Rose is one promoter who has been there for a long time. Ndimai vedu mumimanzi (she is our mother in the music industry).
Most promoters of her time have either retired or are bankrupt, but she is still here and doing even more glorious things.
I wish women out there could emulate her; our sisters and our daughters should learn from people like her and stop being cry-babies.
Biggie Chinoperekwei (Devine Assignments):
I do not know her that much but as a promoter I have so much respect for her and I know that she is respected by many musicians and fellow promoters.
Music promotion is a big gamble, if one is not careful they will bankrupt themselves, but she is one person who has been there for a long time and she is still standing.
This shows that she knows what she is doing. The fact that she is a woman makes it even more remarkable and worth celebrating.
Nicholas Zakaria (musician):
I work well with Mai Red Rose and she is a person who understands the people that she works with.
In my case she knows that I am in music as a profession and in search of a better life.
Accordingly she is always prepared to sacrifice if the show does not go well, which leaves the artistes safe. She is a woman of her word and does not renege on prior agreements like other promoters.
In short she is a person who is interested in lifting musicians and their talent. I wish she continues with music promotion.
If she remains active more musicians will benefit the same way I have benefited from her. She is not a crook and her approach/stamina in business easily equals that of men.
Taka Mashonganyika (Businessman):
She is strong woman. Many men died, others got out of the game but she is still going strong, I salute her. You would not even think she knows Chris Martin, which shows that she has her head in the game.
Plus music promotion is not her only business, she has several other ventures.
