By Darlington Majonga
SOUTHERN African artists are set for what is billed to become one of the best music and cultural festivals in the United Kingdom in years to come.
Zimbabwe’s chimurenga music legend Thomas Mapfumo and South Africa’s kwaito outfit Trompies will share the stage at the inaugural Southern Africa Music Airwaves (SAMA) Festival scheduled for August 29 in Leeds and August 30 in Luton.
There will be a special appearance at SAMA Festival 2009 by the Noisettes, one of the hottest indie rock bands in the United Kingdom led by Zimbabwean-born vocalist and bass guitarist Shingai Shoniwa.
The festival will also unleash urban grooves talent from Zimbabwe in the form of Roki and the group Mafriq as well as dancehall ragga sensation Winky Dee.
Zambian idol Danny, of the Yakumbuyo fame, will also feature at SAMA Festival 2009.
Organisers of the festival, Y2K Entertainment Promotions, have promised an unforgettable concert that they say will also be an excellent marketing opportunity for businesses with interests especially in southern Africa.
Y2K Entertainment Promotions, a United Kingdom-based entertainment company started by southern African entrepreneurs in 2000, has since its establishment held several successful shows involving high-profile performers such as Mapfumo and Nigeria’s Labagja.
“It’s going to be a memorable open-air event,” says Fredrick Matenga, one of the Y2K Entertainment Promotions directors.
“We have looked into different genres such as chimurenga, R&B, rock, reggae and kwaito and we have come up with some of the best acts from southern Africa.”
He adds: “Shingai and the Noisettes, the chart-topping and one of the hottest acts in Britain seen in a popular Mazda ad on TV, will do a guest appearance at the festival.
“She is from Zimbabwe, but very few Africans have seen this phenomenal talent in action.”
Matenga says Y2K saw it important to introduce some of Zimbabwe’s upcoming artists on the international stage.
“SAMA Festival 2009 will give a platform to exciting talent such as Roki, Mafriq and Winky Dee to show the UK and the world what they can do,” says Matenga.
“Mapfumo and the Trompies need no introduction. We are only expecting the best yet to come from these legends.
“Add the impressive Danny from Zambia and the result will be an unforgettable family show.”
Roki, of the Chidzoka fame, says he will not be overwhelmed by rubbing shoulders with some of Africa’s top entertainers.
He says he is looking forward to giving a great performance at SAMA Festival 2009.
“I’m humbled to be offered to perform at the festival with big musicians such as Mukanya, Trompies and others,” says Roki, the 24-year-old performer whose full name is Rockford Josphats.
“It’s a good thing for us as a young group but we’ll show how we have matured over the years.
“Entertaining is our job. Every day we perform we’ll be doing it with London in mind.
“I’ve been studying the map of England and, yah, all I can say is we’ll rock them.
“We’ve new things and we’ll just show how serious we are in this business.”
Pauline Gundidza, the leading vocalist of the Afro-pop group Mafriq, is also excited about the festival.
“We’re very excited about this opportunity and our band has been doing a lot of rehearsing and rebranding ahead of the festival,” says Pauline.
“We are also learning new stuff from a traditional group which we’ll incorporate into our acts.
“Our music is urban but we are trying to keep it cultural.”
Pauline hopes SAMA Festival 2009 will open up opportunities for the exciting Harare group.
“Mafriq has a 20-song album which we’ve been holding onto because we couldn’t get a good record deal as a result of the economic situation in Zimbabwe,” she says.
“But the songs have been doing well on local radio and we believe playing at the festival is a platform to showcase to the world what we can do and who knows we might get an international record deal.”
· For more information on the performers, dates, venues and tickets, visit http://www.y2kpromotions.com/ or email contact@y2kpromotions.com .
· You can get in touch with FREDRICK MATENGA at fredrickmatenga518@msn.com or phone him on +44 7877 196 217; ALEX MARAPARA at alexy2kp@aol.com or phone him on +44 7525 741 060/+44 7847 187 432.
· Released by DARLINGTON MAJONGA on behalf of Y2K Entertainment Promotions. Email him on dmajonga@yahoo.com for further details.
