The ManicaPost
Entertainment Correspondent
MUTARE-BASED journalist-cum-writer Clayton Masekesa has lost an opportunity to showcase his talent at the Africa Music and Literature Festival in Berlin, Germany, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The festival was scheduled for June 24 to 30.
Masekesa, who leads The Eastern Stars Band, was set to perform at the festival and attend a workshop for short story writers.
Organisers of the festival announced last week that the annual festival has been suspended indefinitely.
“We’ve been monitoring the quickly evolving Covid-19 crisis, and it became very clear to us that the best course of action was cancellation,” said Tim Bonnie, the festival’s artistic director, in a circular to invited artistes.
“We have reached that decision taking cognisant of the fact that large public gatherings are not feasible for this festival. We know this is the responsible decision for everyone’s health,” said Bonnie.
Speaking to The Weekender early this week, Masekesa said more opportunities will come his way when the time is right.
“It is sad to miss such a golden opportunity to showcase my talent at such a level, but Covid-19 is a global virus that has affected everyone. God will avail other opportunities,” he said.
“The organisers had invited me after following me on my Facebook page. They became interested after reading my short love stories. Pentagon Books are partners of the festival organisers and they were interested in my works,” said Masekesa.
“On my music, they accessed it through YouTube and fell in love with it,” said the writer-cum-musician. I want to thank all my fans.
“Their comments, shares and likes made it possible for me to be given such an opportunity,” said Masekesa, whose sungura album “The Main Actor” features plug track “Olinda Chapel.”
Another hit, “Pondai,” which was inspired by his infamous assault over a girlfriend, is also a favourite for many. Other songs on the album include “Gusha Bhora” and “Manica Diamonds,” all dedicated to Manicaland’s top football teams.
This year’s Africa Music and Literature Festival was going to give artistes from Burkina Faso, Belgium, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Mali, Nigeria, Austria, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Germany the opportunity to showcase their music and literature.
