Masike, Mbira DzeNharira in Jazz 24/7 affair:
While the popularity of mbira music seems to be dwindling at an alarming rate, musicians in the genre have been doing their best to keep the traditional music alive.
HOPE Masike and Mbira DzeNharira will tonight join forces to take the genre to the people at a show at Jazz 24 /7. The mbira musicians have performed together before and they will once again collaborate in a potentially explosive mbira combination.
The last time Mbira DzeNharira performed at Jazz 24 /7, the group left lasting impressions at an event that also saw some revellers being possessed.
The group’s undiluted mbira vibes have been known to take people to the spiritual world at various shows where they have performed.
Tonight’s show is likely to make the event memorable as the gurus of mbira mix their vibes with Masike’s exciting mbira style.
Dubbed “Hope Masike neMbira DzeNharira”, the concert has been organised as a special gift to mbira lovers.
Both groups have attracted international attention and toured various countries, taking local culture to other lands.
Organisers of the show said they want to make it an exciting mbira encounter.
“There seem to be less mbira shows these days because the genre now has fewer followers than a few years ago. We believe mbira should not die since this is music that truly reflects our culture.
“We want to ensure that the genre keeps growing through inspiring young musicians to pursue mbira. The only way to do so is to organise mbira shows regularly and remind people that this is our music that should live forever,” noted the organisers.
After tonight’s show Masike will travel to the Eastern Highlands for Vumba Art and Craft Fair at Ndundu Lodge tomorrow.
The show is being organised by Friends of Vumba, an organisation that focuses of preserving wildlife in the Eastern Highlands.