Get up close and personal with Mimi
Billy Suter ORIGINAL music from her first album and a preview of material from her forthcoming second album are to be featured when Joburg songstress Mimi Ntenjwa, who performs professionally as Mimi, gives three KwaZulu-Natal concerts at the weekend.
The singer, composer and lyricist, who has a degree in jazz from the University of Cape Town (UCT),will be at Glenwood’s KZNSA Gallery at 6pm tomorrow, at the Tatham Gallery in Pietermaritzburg at 2pm on Saturday and at the Rainbow Restaurant in Pinetown at 1pm on Sunday.
Last in Durban in October, when she performed as a guest at the popular Wednesday jazz concerts at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Mimi is looking forward to entertaining here again.
“I don’t get to perform in Durban too often, but I am hoping that will change because I love audiences in KwaZulu-Natal,” she says.
Soon to launch her second album and tour it locally and abroad, although she prefers to not say more about the album at this stage, Mimi says local audiences can expect “an up close and personal kind of show”.
Born in Vosloorus, Gauteng, Mimi’s love of music began at a young age in church, “that being my first exposure to singing”.
While still at university, she got an early big break when she performed at the Cape Town Jazz Festival with pianist Joe McBride.
“It was an amazing experience as it is one of the biggest festivals we have in the country,” she recalls.
She has since gone on to perform alongside the likes of Sibongile Khumalo, Judith Sephuma, Jimmy Dludlu, Themba Mkhize. Rita Marley, Joe McBride and Lauryn Hill.
Which of these collaborations is most memorable and why?
“All these performances were special simply because I have the outmost respect for all of these musicians – and I admire them for their body of works.
“With Themba I had an opportunity to tour Germany in 2009, and with Lauryn it was a great performance at The Dome in Johannesburg.”
After graduating with honours from UCT in 2005, Mimi went on to release her first album, Essence of My Soul, produced by Mdu Mtshali who is now her musical director.
The album won the Metro FM award for best Jazz album in 2008.