The ManicaPost
THE year 2021, just like 2020, goes down as one of the most difficult years for local performing and visual artistes as they could not meet their fans, eke a living and popularise their brands effectively after gatherings were banned due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Most artistes resorted to online platforms, while others found the going tough and threw in the towel.
Notable achievements and feats were, however, recorded in the sector.
Our Lifestyle, Entertainment and Tourism correspondent, Liberty Dube looks at this year’s major highlights in the arts and culture sectors.
Lifeline for impoverished local artistes
In a move aimed at boosting local upcoming and established artistes’ waning fortunes following the Covid-19 induced lockdown, Mutare preacher and philanthropist, Apostle Joe Daniels set up a visual entertainment studio, Joe Vibes to accord them a platform to perform virtual live sessions.
The studio saw local musicians such as Dorcas Moyo, Billy Ngoreta, sungura ace, Brian Samaita performing virtual online sessions.
Local movie premières on DSTV
In another historic feat in the local showbiz, a local movie, “Kushata Kwemoyo,” was screened on DSTV’s Mnet Movies pop-up channel twice a week for the first time.
The movie which was written by Mutare-based actress and filmmaker, Amanda Ranganawa premièred in 2017 and won the Outstanding Screen Production at the National Arts Merit Awards in 2018.
MultiChoice Group selected the movie among other African films as part of Africa Day commemorations on May 25.
Sha Sha on America’s billboard
Mutare’s own jewel, Charmaine Shamiso Mapimbiro, fondly known as Sha Sha scored big again after she was selected to feature on Pandora’s Today’s Afrobeats Station which launched a new mode called Africa’s Next hosted by Notjustok.
Amapiano songstress, who hails from the dusty streets of Mutare’s sprawling suburb of Dangamvura joined other bubbling new generation of African artistes who were selected to feature on Africa’s Next such as Fireboy DML, KiDi Gyakie, Omah Lay, Kelvyn Boy and others.
Sha Sha’s face together with other artistes featured on a billboard overlooking Times Square in New York City in America.
The billboard is part of the campaign for Pandora’s Africa’s Next radio mode hosted by Notjustok.
Writing on her Twitter handle, Sha Sha said: “From Mutare to the streets of New York. Super excited to be a part of Africa’s Next Mode on Today’s Afro Beats hosted by @notjustok listen on @pandoramusic!”
Local model in historic UK modelling triumph
Mutare-born model, Blessing Mutamba, shrugged off stiff competition to be crowned Royal UK Ms first runner-up.
The pageant which saw more than 30 models from all over UK competing, saw Mutamba being the only Zimbabwean and of African descend to compete.
The prestigious pageant is the perennial UK’s only official entry into the Royal International Miss competition which is set to be held in Orlando Florida, US in July 2022.
Horror movie hits the street
Local showbiz continued to grow in leaps and bounds following the release of a horror movie, “Ngozi”.
Blessing Mutamba
The movie premièred on YouTube.
The movie was initially released on a pay-per-view platform, Castlly on May 25.
The movie features a contingent of Mutare’s established and upcoming actors and actresses who have featured on other local productions such as Pastor Tinashe Murigo, Leonard (DJ Lampy) Tsikira, Stephen Mutsago, Tapiwa Marahwa and Rachael Marara.
Award winning poet launches book
Multiple-award-winner and Mutare-based writer, Margaret Chideme launched a book titled “Thirty Something” which has more than 30 poems that carries themes such as love, anxiety and betrayal.
Life’s hurdles inspires budding writer (21)
After growing up as a depressed and dejected orphan in the remote areas of Chimanimani with no caring relatives and friends, a 21-year-old budding writer published a book titled, “Walks of Life”.
Yvonne Tsumbirani who was doing Upper Sixth at Nyamauru High School in Dangamvura this year said she was inspired by a sad tale of events that has been taking place in her life since the loss of her parents when she was 12.
The book inspires people, particularly the girl child, to be resilient, focused and unwavering during turbulent times.
In the book, the talented writer encourages readers not to be affected emotionally, physically and spiritually by past experiences.
New chartered flight for Manicaland
A new dawn for local tourism was recorded this year after a Zimbabwe-owned air charter travel company, Fly City Air made history on October 31 to launch the first commercial passenger charter flight between Harare and Mutare.
The development means a passenger can now fly from Mutare Aerodrome and land directly at Robert Mugabe International Airport (Harare) to catch connecting flights.
The 30-minute flight between Harare and Mutare will allow easy local connections with places like Bulawayo, Victoria Falls and Kariba.
On the regional routes, same day connections between Cape Town, Lusaka, Lilongwe, Blantyre, Johannesburg, Nairobi and Addis Ababa are now possible.
Alick Macheso meets fans after two-year sabbatical
Sungura kingpin and shrewd composer, Alick Macheso in October met his legion of fans at his favourite hunting ground, The Platinum Leisure Centre, popularly known as PaMupfumi after more than 18 months of non-action at the venue.
He performed for seven hours because of the Covid-19 lockdown induced curfew.
Revellers parted with US$20, in a move which was set to limit numbers of large crowds that are normally associated with Macheso and his outfit, Orchestra Mberikwazvo.
Local hotelier elected HAZ Vice president
Newly-elected Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe national vice-president, Mr Brian Nyakutombwa pledged to stir the ship to dizzy heights during the Covid-19 period and beyond.
Nyakutombwa who is also Montclair Hotel and Casino general manager was elected into office at the HAZ annual congress held in Harare recently and will deputise Victoria Falls Hotel general manager, Farai Chimba.
Chimba who takes over from Clive Chinwada who was at the helm since 2019 will be co-deputised by Emmah Kativhu and Nyakutombwa.
