The ManicaPost
Liberty Dube
Entertainment Correspondent
LOCAL traditional group, DezeRaWasu, has been selected as one of the nominees and Zimbabwe’s only representative in the 13th edition of the Afro Pepites Show in France.
The Afro Pepites Show, organised by The African Dream, is an annual online arts market that celebrates and promotes cultural projects from Africa, the Caribbean and other regions.
Since 2009, The African Dream has been dedicated to fostering exchanges and providing a platform for artistes, professionals and enthusiasts of African cultures to connect and collaborate.
DezeRaWasu’s project titled ‘Rudo Rwangu’ was selected among entries from 158 countries and was nominated among the 10 countries that were selected for the voting process.
This will lead to the selection of the top three. Winners will be announced on December 15.
Rudo Rwangu is a live video recording with a duration of four minutes and 50 seconds, featuring the Celebrate Africa Band.
The song’s theme revolves around showing care and love to someone in their time of need, only for them to leave without saying goodbye or showing gratitude.
One of the group leaders, Kevin Tapuwanashe Dozwa said: “We are really grateful for this opportunity. We are urging people to vote for us as we are representing the nation in this prestigious show.
“This will assist us in linking with booking agents from around the world. Lyrics in the song make use of Shona idioms such as ‘kurera imbwa nemukaka inofuma yokuruma mangwana’, which means someone can turn against you, even after you would have given them your all.”
“Projects at The African Dream represent a diverse range of artistic disciplines, including music, fashion, storytelling, poetry, dance, photography, painting, short films, and more.
“The selection committee consists of renowned professionals in the arts and media industry who carefully evaluate and choose projects that exemplify the richness and creativity of African cultures,” he said.
To be considered for the Afro Pepites Show, artists are invited to complete the online registration form available on The African Dream’s website.
The form requires contact details, a link to a picture representing the project, a link to listen or discover the project, and a biography.
Artistes without a website are encouraged to share their creations on platforms like Soundcloud, ReverbNation, YouTube, and Instagram.
