Club Shanga off to Mozambique

From the Zimbabwe Herald
by Wenceslaus Murape, 15th February 2012

Marondera-based Club Shanga on Monday left for the Mozambican capital of Maputo where they were invited as guest performers at the Music Crossroads Inter-Regional Finals. Club Shanga were invited as the reigning inter-regional winners, after scooping the award last year in Tanzania.

The Maputo finals are to be held at the Centro Cultural Franco-Mocambicano.

Three other guest groups from Sweden, Belgium and Norway are also set to grace the finals, scheduled to run from Wednesday until Monday.

The seven-piece Club Shanga have roped in versatile young bassist Shingi Musengi (20), who is on his first tour with the outside the country.

Musengi has been hired as a direct replacement for the late founding member Nickson Sauchi, who passed on last year.

Lead vocalist Farai Baramasimbe said this year the group has a tight schedule before their second European tour in June.

“Upon our return from Maputo, we’re set to perform at the 21st February Movement gala in Mutare.

“We’ll then follow this up with a welcome home party at Marondera Country Club,” said Baramasimbe.

He said they were still working on their second album that was expected on the shelves before their European tour.

Baramasimbe also revealed that their live DVD recorded during their maiden tour of Spain last year was doing well.

The DVD is being marketed and distributed by AfriMun Music owned by prominent promoter Mathius Bangure.

Music Crossroads is Southern Africa’s premier music competition for young music artistes of all genres.

It is not only a music festival, but also a chance for young musicians to change their lives and that of their communities forever.

The Maputo festival is a culmination of an entire year’s activities that included musical training and competitions at Crossroad centres in Mozambique, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Tanzania and Zambia.

The focus of the programme is on professionalism in the music field, including improvisation, promotion, management and career development.

This is through workshops facilitated by local, European and other African facilitators.

In addition to that Music Crossroads also holds a Relationship Workshop, which looks on HIV and Aids as well as gender issues.

About Rob

Born and educated in Zimbabwe, Africa, I grew up with in an environment much different from the one that I find I now live in. In some ways I find that the third world has a more appropriate sense of moral standards in comparison to the so called first world. When you are brought up in an environment that expects you to be totally self sufficient and prepared to make your own destiny you develop a strong sense of Entrepreneurship early on in life. You learn a “can do” attitude and become multi skilled. I have been amazed to find that living in a first world country so many people have little or no ambition in life. There is no sense of pride in achievement and everyone follows a set pattern because it is unthought-of to break societies trends. What is the purpose of going to university to become a travel agent? Why spend years educating yourself to sell yourself short at the first hurdle. True visionaries have learnt in this claustrophobic society of the first world to think outside the box. Measured success has come from individuals that learnt to apply themselves through hard work and the ability to see an opportunity and apply themselves accordingly. I was educated in a country that has a record internationally as having a society that are regarded as being the most highly educated people in Africa. That is not to say that they are academically perfect, but they have a practical knowledge that sets them aside as being unique in their ability to take what they learn around them and apply it to their own circumstances to adapt and be successful in ways other societies cannot. I am proud to be a part of this community, and proud of my heritage. As an individual I have learnt over time to have an appreciation for things I never quite understood before I was subjected to the big bad world. I am most certainly not perfect, and far from where I would like to be at in my life, but it is a journey along many roads, and with many adventures and tribulations along the way. Those of you that join me on this blog will find the thoughts, feelings and ideas that this journey generates for me. So I welcome you, and if you like what you read, give me a shout, I would be glad to hear your thoughts and opinions.

Posted on February 17, 2012, in Live Music Gig, News and tagged , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink. Leave a Comment.

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