Metaphysics' dream of a little Amsterdam in Harare
23/03/2011 00:00:00
by Henry Makiwa
I CAUGHT up with one of Africa’s hip hop giants, Metaphysics, a couple of weeks ago as he took time off his European tour with his band Sohne Mannheims. The previous night, I had watched Meta, a.k.a Herbert Schwamborn, bring the house down with a 5-mic performance at a jam-packed Koko’s in London’s Camden Town.
Very much a trailblazing and defining force of Zimbabwean hip hop, Meta has in recent times focused his energies on championing neglected issues and playing an ambassadorial role for his beloved homeland.
Last year, the former A Peace of Ebony frontman sparked an online petition called the Zimbabwe Diamond Trust, to push for the acceptance of Zimbabwe to trade its diamond minerals on the world market.
The country’s new find of wealth in precious stones has been a cause of much diplomatic friction between Zimbabwe and the West following allegations that they were "blood diamonds". But pressure and support from other African and diamond exporting countries in the developing world, has seen a gradual shift from this stance, with Zimbabwe being allowed to make some sales since the turn of the year.
Another interesting occurrence happened. Ahead of elections of the world diamond trade regulating body, Kimberley Process (KP), the United States dispatched an envoy to Harare to lobby for support in the poll. This was in spite of the political sanctions Washington has slapped on Zimbabwe for nearly a decade and the general diplomatic hostility between the two countries.
Zimbabwean officials, as expected, made it clear to the visiting US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Susan Page that the US could not expect Harare's backing for as long as Washington sabotaged the country's diamond industry.
As I sat with Meta reading the news piece on New Zimbabwe.com, sampling his latest solo joint Give Me Zimbabwe, he couldn’t hide feelings of vindication of his petition campaign and how justified his efforts were.
“It’s very cheeky of the Americans to pull off such a move while they are at the forefront of prohibiting diamonds from Zimbabwe from KP certification and international trade. They’ve had it coming,” he quips.
Meta also feels justified about his other campaign: the legalisation of marijuana, which has stirred a storm in Zimbabwe. If he had his way, downtown Harare would be a little Amsterdam.
On his last visit to Harare, the German-based rapper armed himself with an HD camera and filmed and produced the pro-marijuana documentary Rolling, Smoking. In it, Metaphysics gets to the core of the issue, conducting a vox pop on the streets about weed and gauging the public mood about legalising the drug.
Attention from the media was to follow, when he was interviewed by Harare’s popular tabloid, H-Metro. Then the unexpected happened when one of the country’s legislators from President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu PF party took the debate into parliament.
Uzumba MP Simbaneuta Mudarikwa reportedly drew prolonged laughter in the House of Assembly after suggesting marijuana should be grown legally in “remote areas” for medicinal purposes or for worldwide export to countries where the drug is legal.
In Zimbabwe, the negative publicity about weed has managed to demonise it to such an extent that there is barely anyone who vouches for it in public although many people use it.
Metaphysics reckons the tide is about to change and puts his case in the video I shot, directed and edited below.
Labels: CANNABIS, HIP-HOP
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Boyz II Men heading for Zim
Friday, 06 January 2012 15:18
Shamiso Yikoniko
Zimbabweans are in for the treat of a lifetime in March this year as the world’s most renowned R and B group of all times, the award-winning Boyz II Men are headed for Harare.
The RnB outfit is expected to perform during the “Jazz under the Stars” concert that will be held at the Harare International Conference Centre on March 31. The organisers of the event are optimistic that event will be the greatest ever to be held in this country.
Considering that it will be the first time that Boyz II Men will be stepping on Zimbabwean soil, Freedom Maziriri, the director of Freecom Ad, the company behind the coming in of the foursome anticipates that the jazz concert will be the show of the year.
“It will be the first time that Boyz II Men come into our country and we are promising Zimbabweans fireworks. We are guaranteeing local revellers a glamourous night filled with excitement.
“I bet you the show will be dubbed the show of the year,” he said.
Boyz II Men is an American RnB vocal group best known for emotional ballads and acapella harmonies. They are considered the most successful RnB group of all time, having sold more than 60 million albums worldwide.
The RnB outfit comprises of Nathan Morris, Wanya Morris and Shawn Stockman. The group won four Grammy Awards in the 1990s.
Asked why he chose Boyz II Men for a jazz event, Maziriri said that he wanted to give music lovers a different feel and also to balance the international musical acts in the country.
“It has been long overdue for Zimbabwe to be graced by such a highly commended musical group which offers a different feel of music. Our country has seen an influx of reggae and ragga artistes recently and I thought that it was time for a change,” he added.
According to Wikipedia, Boyz II Men gained international celebrity behind unprecedented success on the pop charts with their first single “End of the Road” in 1992.
They also exceeded expectations later in the decade with hits “I’ll Make Love to You”, “One Sweet Day” (with Mariah Carey) and “On Bended Knee”.
The group was known originally as Unique Attraction and was founded in 1988 at the Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. There, friends Nathan Morris and Marc Nelson organised several RnB singing groups, most of which ended quickly. Eventually, they found a winning formula by recruiting tenors Wanya Morris and Shawn Stockman and bass Michael McCary.
The group would rehearse in the high school’s bathrooms, due to the excellent acoustics. They found inspiration in New Edition’s harmonies and routines, and eventually renamed the group “Boyz II Men”, after one of New Edition’s songs.
A year before releasing their debut album, in 1990, they made an appearance on a solo album by Robbie Mychals.
The delay before recording their own material and reported personality conflicts led founding member Marc Nelson to leave the group, making Boyz II Men into the quartet that found international fame: Michael McCary, Nathan Morris, Wanya Morris and Shawn Stockman.
From the beginning, Boyz II Men featured all four members as leads, avoiding the usual RnB group arrangement of one or two lead singers and a team of background singers.
The multiple-lead arrangement became a Boyz II Men trademark, and it became typical to hear Wanya Morris’ vibrato-heavy tenor, Shawn Stockman’s tenor voice, Nathan Morris’ baritone and Michael McCary’s bass.
Veteran musician Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi, jazz virtuoso Victor Kunonga, the young and talented PrayerSoul, jazz songbird Dudu Manhenga, the Cool Crooners and the jazz couple Selmar and Tendai Manatsa will be the supporting acts during the event.
Dudu, who also performed at last year’s edition, is ecstatic about sharing the stage with Boyz II Men and confirmed that she knows about the event and they are still tying the loose ends with the organisers.
“I am really looking forward to the event but we are still to tie-up the loose ends with Maziriri,” she said.
Kunonga and PrayerSoul also confirmed their participation at “Jazz Under the Stars” concert.
Maziriri views the coming in of Boyz II Men as a brand building mechanism for Zimbabwe.
“Inasmuch as it takes time to build a brand for a country, I believe that the coming in of Boyz II Men will help build a good brand. Brand building has to start somewhere,” he said.
Maziriri also added that there are going to hold workshops for skills transfer where Boyz II Men will impart their musical knowledge to the local artistes prior to the jazz night.
Although by the time of going to press Sunday Mail Leisure had not got confirmation from Boyz II Men regarding the show, last year, Maziriri and his team brought in South African diva Lira for the same event and they left a lasting impression after they put up a polished show in Borrowdale.
Zimbabwe get ready to get down on bended knees!-Sunday Mail
Labels: ENTERTAINMENT, HIP-HOP
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Malawi’s musicians Maskal, Tigris to perform at Big Brother
By Nyasa Times
Published: June 8, 2011
Malawi’s Afro-R&B singer, Maskal, and female Pop singer, Tigris, will be the first two artists from one country to perform in one night in the on-going Big Brother Africa (BBA) Amplified in South Africa , Nyasa Times has learnt.
Information gathered by Nyasa Times indicate that the two Malawian artists will be performing live in the house during this Sunday’s eviction show from 7pm.
Tigris performing with Maskal
“They [Maskal and Tigris] have been given time to perform one song each on the same night, same stage,” said a source.
When contacted for verification, MultiChoice Malawi Sales and Marketing Manager, Chimwemwe Nyirenda said they were just waiting for final confirmation.
“I will call you on the final confirmation, am still in the office,” said Nyirenda, who did not call back.
Over the weekend, the ‘Gimme a Break’ diva, Tigris, told Nyasa Times: “I can’t wait for next week [to perform at Big Brother].”
Maskal and Tigris, nominated for the June 24 Malawian Music Awards (MMA), both released their debut albums last year, titled ‘Nthawi’ and ‘Gimme a Break’, respectively.
As he swims in the glory of fame and success, Maskal’s performance at BBA comes after he recently received a big booster, a Toyota Will-V car from Access Communications Limited, as the fixed phone company’s brands ambassador.
The maker of ‘Udalire’ and ‘Wa CV’ hits was also recently unveiled as one of the four local artists to headline this year’s Lake of Stars international music festival to take place in the lakeshore district of Mangochi in September.
On the other hand, the Tigris’ title track features the country’s male representative in the BBA Amplified, Lomwe, who is also a radio DJ at Malawi’s private-owned radio FM 101.
Recently, the country’s DJ Boo entertained housemates as he played in the house, which also has Felicia as Malawi’s flag carrier, besides Lomwe.
Malawi’s rapper Young Kay was the one who performed in last year’s BBA All Stars house, which had former FM 101 DJ, Code, as the country’s representative.
Meanwhile, MultiChoice Malawi have organised what has been dubbed BBA Amplified warm up party with Maskal and Tigris at Club Mustang Sally in Blantyre on Friday night.—(Reporting by Kimpho Loka, Nyasa Times)
Labels: ENTERTAINMENT, HIP-HOP, MALAWI
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Lil’ Kim steals Zimbabwe show
Posted by By Our reporter
2 June, at 18 : 50 PM
PLATINUM ALBUM holder and rapper Lil Kim, real name Kimberly Denise Jones, stole the show at the Zarfest’ Africa’s biggest hip hop night held on Saturday last week.
Making her maiden stage appearance at the Borrowdale Race Course Lil Kim or “Queen Bee”, as she is affectionately called showed that she is a force to reckon with and even gave some male rappers a good run for their money.
Queen Bee took some time to salute the late Notorious B.I.G and both the male and female specie, “When I was in South Africa I saw a lot of good looking men. Now I am in Zimbabwe I am seeing a lot of handsome men. I love you Zimbabwe!” she screamed out.
The pint sized emcee even invited some young locals onto the stage as a way of showing her appreciation, “You know I am from Brooklyn, home of the greatest rappers. Now there is a song by my boy Jay Z and Alicia Keys about New York.
The same song I am going to ask my friends to sing about Zimbabwe. A place where dreams are made and where lights inspire you,” Lil Kim continued.
The fans who were all young adults joined Queen B and the Race Course exploded into, “Zimbabwe concrete jungle where dreams are made of. These streets will make you feel brand new.”
Backed by her Dee jay, two backing vocalists and two female dancers Lil Kim gave a mind blowing performance before and after fellow rappers Fat Joe and Ciara respectively.
Her costume cannot go without mention. The military style red bolero was complimented by a military cap and a piece (or lingerie rather) that left men drooling.
Fellow singer, Ciara went on stage clad in tight fitting pants that left patrons debating who was the more fabulous of the two ladies. Ciara performed some raunchy dances that rocked the fans into frenzy.
“We have heard some propaganda about Zimbabwe but that will not stop us from coming here. We love you and your country,” Fat Joe had screamed as he curtain raised the show for the hip hoppers.
Backed by an equally powerful male rapper and Dee jay, Fat Joe left the chilly Race Course heated up to fever pitch by the talented rappers. To many who are not used to rude language, they most probably left the venue reeling with shock. Fat Joe rained unprintable words onto the appreciative crowd and lured the fans into some serious dances.
Lean back was undoubtedly the crowd favourite. The show was attended by a sizeable crowd who forked out US$50 for the economy tickets, US$100 for the Golden Ring tickets and US$200 for the VIP stubs. The stage design was a true reflection of an international award winning ceremony with the brilliant lighting complementing the ambience.
The sound quality was perfect, bathing the whole arena with a wash of lyrics and beats. Lungile Radu (Sbu from Rhythm City) was the mcee and the female population was literally swooning under the star’s prowess.
“Ladies and gentlemen give it up for the US finest Dj,” he said referring to Dj Scratch “My man, it is the world’s finest Dj,” Lungile was corrected by Dj Scratch. Scratch like his name suggests made squeaky but electrifying sounds with the discs on the turn tables.
It was undoubtedly a memorable night for those fortunate enough to attend it.
Labels: ENTERTAINMENT, HIP-HOP
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SA outing an eye-opener, says Paul da Prince
By Felix Kashweka
Fri 27 May 2011, 09:08 CAT
YOUTH artiste Paul Munanjala otherwise known as Paul Da Prince has described his performances in South Africa to promote his recently released mixtape as an eye-opener.
In an interview with the Weekend Post, Paul, 19 talked about the tour which he undertook to Johannesburg last month.
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He added that besides performing, he also met other artistes.
“I also found myself dancing with a crew from Monash University called the Rejects. We performed at Monash Beer fest on Thursday April 21. Cabo Snoop (a kuduro artist from Angola) was part of the event which was covered by MTV Base.
"While in South Africa, I met a new producer who will send me instrumentals that I will work on with 'house' which is a popular genre in South Africa,"said Paul.
"I made a lot of contacts in South Africa and I plan on going back there to collaborate with many other artistes,"he said.
He said he hopes to release his debut album by December.
"My album will be released before the end of the year because the mixtape I have released is basically just giving people what they expect in my album and will feature artistes like Tsouya, B-Flow and Slap-D,"he said.
Paul featured in the song Boss Lady done by Ruff Kid.
Labels: DANCE HALL, ENTERTAINMENT, HIP-HOP, SOUTH AFRICA
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Mary J Blige in Zimbabwe this week
by Showbiz Reporter
14/12/2010 00:00:00
GRAMMY-WINNING American singer Mary J Blige is due in Zimbabwe this week for her first ever show in Harare, it was announced. The worldwide superstar known for such hits as Be Without You and Family Affair will arrive on Friday evening, a day before she performs at Jaggers Warehouse in Msasa, organisers said.
The show, organised by a local music promotions company, is being supported by the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority. Tickets for the show go on sale on Wednesday, a delay promoters said was caused by “a series of challenges”.
“We know we delayed in publicising the event but we could not rush things as we were still completing the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority requirements,” said Tinopona Katsande of Impeccable Events.
She said they had picked Mary J because she was a good role model for women.
“Our decision to bring in Mary J is in line with the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence. Mary J is a woman who knows her rights and has been through a lot of ups and downs in her life,” said Katsande.
The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority hopes Mary J – winner of eight Grammy Awards -- will visit various tourist sites while in the country, with the publicity generated from the visit helping to restore Zimbabwe as a tourist-friendly destination.
Organisers said the tickets for the show will be available starting on Wednsday at Sam Levy’s Village, the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority and at the E-Ticket booth at Avondale shopping centre. Standard tickets will be sold for $15 and VIP tickets will cost $60.
Labels: HIP-HOP, MARY J BLIGE, ZIMBABWE
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Akon, Sean Paul show world class
by Showbiz reporter
05/09/2010 00:00:00
MEGA-STARS Sean Paul and Akon put up what fans described as a world class performance at the National Sports Stadium in Harare on Saturday in a show that was however, undermined by some organisational hiccups.
Scheduled to have started at 6:30 pm, the show only kicked off after 9pm as the thousands of people who had bought tickets struggled to access the giant stadium where only a few gates were available for entry.
Riot police had to be called-in to control the restive crowds who where still struggling to get into the stadium as late as 8pm.
Again, inside the stadium, the VIP areas whose tickets cost between US$50 and US$100 ended up being free for all as the organizers failed to ensure enough security was available to control access.
Fans were also outraged at what they described as extortionate prices for beverages.
However the artists did not disappoint when the show eventually got underway with the locals led by Winky D warming up the crowd for the headline acts.
Urban grooves stars Extra Large, Leonard Mapfumo, ExQ and Cindy also put in commendable performances.
Dancehall superstar Sean Paul took to the stage just before 11pm and wowed the crowd with his hit song ‘Hold My Hand’ accompanied by a live band and dancing girls clad in lingerie outfits.
The Jamaican star also delighted the crowd with a rendition of Bob Marley’s song Zimbabwe.
Meanwhile Akon dimissed has claims he missed a flight to the Victoria Falls that had been organized by the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA).
The state tourism promotion body claimed it had arranged the trip with the US-based star prior to his arrival in the country with spokesman Sugar Chagonda insisitng everything had been put in place only for the star to fail to turn up.
However Akon’s management said the publicist said the trip – aimed at promoting the country’s tourism products – had not been discussed with him.
“Neither Akon nor his management team agreed to visit Victoria Falls on a commercial flight that morning,” his publicists said.
Labels: AKON, HARARE, HIP-HOP, SEAN PAUL
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The true cost of hiring Akon, Sean Paul
By: TSM-TZG
Posted: Sunday, September 5, 2010 12:24 am
AS weary legs trudge out of the National Sports Stadium this morning, few will take time to reflect on the mammoth cost of bringing Akon and Sean Paul into the country, which by any measure was not a stroll in the park.
For starters, the five-star Meikles Hotel, where they were booked, cost US$150 per room, whether single or double. With the entourage for either Sean Paul and Akon reported to be around 22 each, accommodation should have gobbled up around US$20 000, assuming they were booked for three nights — from Thursday till this morning.
Lunch at the same hotel costs US$20 per head with supper coming in at the same price, giving a total of around US$5 500. Thus food and accommodation combined to give a total of around US$25 000.
As for the National Sports Stadium, which is currently being managed by the Ministry of Public Works whilst waiting to be transferred into the hands of the Sports and Recreation Commission, the ministry charged 15 percent of gate-takings. A spokesperson for the ministry said its officials were manning the gates, to tally the number of people who paid to get in. With an expected bumper crowd of about 25 000, the ministry should look forward to pocketing around US$93 000. That is assuming each ticket sells at an average price of US$25.
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The stage, lighting and sound system, which was reported to be all state-of-the-art, was secured at a cost of US$135 000, which was confirmed by an official working behind the scenes.
Earlier media reports had suggested that the stage and sound system would match the one used by Joyce Meyer during her recent visit.
As for security, the Zimbabwe Republic Police is rather on the expensive side. According to figures made available by the police, it costs US$3 per hour to hire a constable, while a sergeant costs US$4 per hour and an assistant inspector or sergeant-major US$5. Assuming 100 constables, 50 sergeants and 50 assistant inspectors were hired, this would bring the ZRP bill to around US$17 000, for a 24-hour shift spanning from 6am yesterday morning to 6am this morning.
As for private security details, security companies charge US$300 for 10 guards for 12 hours. With the magnitude of yesterday’s show, around 200 guards would have been hired, bringing the bill to US$12 000. Bouncers are said to charge US$50 per day. Thirty bouncers over four days would gobble up no less than US$6 000.
Though the fees paid to Akon and Sean Paul remained largely speculative, with Karikoga Kaseke, CEO of the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority who are in partnership with Zimswag, citing a confidentiality clause, some respected promoters pointed to figures ranging between US$200 000 and US$250 000 for Akon and around US$150 000 for Sean Paul.
Alick Macheso, Stunner, Winky D — in fact all the local contingent of artistes — would come in at a collective total of around US$10 000. What a pity! Then there are the advertising costs, which can conservatively be put at around US$50 000. Printing of tickets can be estimated at around US$10 000. To that add another US$10 000 for sundry expenses.
Thus as thousands of people thronged the turnstiles at the giant National Sports Stadium yesterday afternoon, Tendai Mupfurutsa and his partners, some who have preferred to work quietly behind the scenes, could have spent about US$770 000, which is no small change.
Meanwhile, although many fans, especially the younger generation, are excited about Akon and Sean Paul’s visit, with some describing it as the next best thing since Bob Marley in April 1980, truth is there have been a number of international acts in the last 30 years.
Probably the biggest show after Bob Marley was the Human Rights Now! Concert, which featured Tracy Chapman, Bruce Springsteen and Yossou N'Dour, among other high-profile musicians. Then there was the Graceland concert, which had Paul Simon headlining and Ladysmith Black Mambazo as the supporting act. And it was a three-day affair!
On the reggae front, a number of international top acts have made it into the country, notably UB40, Aswad, Gregory Isaacs, I-Jah Man Levi, Misty In Roots, Don Carlos, Culture, Jimmy Cliff and, recently, Maxi Priest.
Country music has not been left out, as Don Williams performed at the Harare International Conference Centre and later at the Police Grounds, in what was a ground-breaking live performance for him. American soul singer Percy Sledge, of “When a Man Loves a Woman” fame, also came — twice.
During the ’80s and ’90s when rhumba and kwasa-kwasa ruled the roost, Zimbabwe hosted a number of top-of-the-pile artistes, among them Kanda Bongoman, Pepe Kalle, Kofi Olomide, Yondo Sister, General Defao, Loketo and Werrason.
Even the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, jetted into the country in 1998, although it was a non-performing visit.
Granted, the Akon-Sean Paul visit is probably the highest-profile gig to happen in this country since the turn of the millennium, which made it a must-attend show.
Labels: AKON, HIP-HOP, SEAN PAUL
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Akon hails ‘beautiful’ Zim
by Agencies
04/09/2010 00:00:00
UNITED States-based R&B superstar Akon says he has not seen any of the negative things highlighted by the Western media about Zimbabwe adding there were a lot of misconceptions about Africa in many parts of the world.
The superstar, who jetted into Harare on Thursday afternoon for a show alongside dancehall maestro Sean Paul, said he had struggled to see any of the bad things said about the country.
“As far as I can see Zimbabwe is a beautiful place and I haven’t seen anything that contradicted the positive things that I have heard before,” he said.
The star is in the country as part of efforts by authorities to rebrand a country battered by negative publicity after relations with Western countries chilled following its controversial land reforms.
Akon told journalists that the African continent had often been projected as underdeveloped and backward.
“I think there have been a lot of misconceptions, too, in a lot of places in Africa. But when you land in these places you never really see what they are talking about,” he said at a press briefing.
“You never get to see the misconceptions that are as far as the place being underdeveloped.”
Akon said African people were mostly the same everywhere, despite their situations.
“Everywhere in Africa that I have been, pretty much has always been the same. It feels like you are in the same place.
“Everyone has the same energy. All the people have been extremely humble. Even in the areas that have seen a lot of conflict, when I get there, I don’t feel it,” he said.
Akon paid tribute to thousands of fans, who earlier thronged Harare International Airport and his hotel in down-town Harare and promised to give them a show of their “lifetime.”
“We are very excited. This is an incredible moment for us. We have been trying to get to Zimbabwe for a long, long time. We always end up bumping heads with unreal promoters.
“Sometimes you hear that Akon is coming but we never knew that we are coming. It is really funny because Africans, we are like that, we are the ultimate hustlers. This time it was real. A call came from Zimbabwe and it was a real call with some real people doing some real business,” he said.
The show promises to be one of the best, if not the best, according to organisers - Zimswag.
Analysts say it should be bigger than the 1980 Independence concert where reggae legend Bob Marley performed, and even the 1988 Human Rights concert when Zimbabwe hosted Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Sting, Peter Gabriel, Tracy Chapman and Youssou N’Dour.
Zimswag also say the show should surpass other shows that have seen American R&B stars Joe Thomas, Tevin Campbell and Horace Brown as well as reggae maestros Luciano, Maxi Priest and Sizzla Kalonji performing in recent months.
Labels: AKON, HIP-HOP, SEAN PAUL
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Akon sends Zim fans agog, hails continent
By Kingsley Kaswende in Harare
Sat 04 Sep. 2010, 20:30 CAT
SENGALESE-born R&B superstar Akon has said
there have been a lot of misconceptions about Africa in many parts of the world. The American singer, who jetted into Harare on Thursday afternoon for a show yesterday alongside dancehall maestro Sean Paul, told journalists that the continent had often been projected as underdeveloped and backward.
“I think there have been a lot of misconceptions, too, in a lot of places in Africa. But
when you land in these places you never really see what they are talking about,” he said at a press briefing.
“You never get to see the misconceptions that are as far as the place being underdeveloped.”
He said, as he arrived in central Harare, he struggled to see the bad things that had been said about Zimbabwe in the Western world.
“As far as I can see Zimbabwe is a beautiful place and I haven’t seen anything that contradicted the positive things that I have heard before,” he said.
Akon said African people were mostly the same everywhere, despite their situations.
“Everywhere in Africa that I have been, pretty much has always been the same. It feels like you are in the same place. Everyone has the same energy. All the people have been extremely humble. Even in the areas that have seen a lot of conflict, when I get there, I don’t feel it,” he said.
He paid tribute to thousands of fans, who earlier thronged Harare International Airport and his hotel in down-town Harare.
He promised to give them a show of their “lifetime.”
“We are very excited. This is an incredible moment for us. We have been trying to get to Zimbabwe for a long, long time. We always end up bumping heads with unreal promoters.
Sometimes you hear that Akon is coming but we never knew that we are coming. It is really funny because Africans, we are like that, we are the ultimate hustlers. This time it was real. A call came from Zimbabwe and it was a real call with some real people doing some real business,” he said.
Hundreds of his fans besieged the airport, although most of them could not even see him due to tight security.
He was sneaked out of the airport through a back entrance and was driven away from roaring fans in a top-range Rolls Royce Phantom. He was immediately driven to one of the oldest, notorious and densely populated township of Mbare.
His 20-strong entourage followed behind in stretch limousines. As the kilometre-long convoy got into the city centre, several people lined the streets, waving at him and calling his name while he peeped through the sun-roof.
At the hotel, there was a near-stampede as his fans jostled to catch a glimpse of him. But security personnel whisked him to his room on the 10th floor of Meikles Hotel, where he later emerged on the balcony and waved at the multitudes below.
The show promises to be one of the best, if not the best, according to organisers - Zimswag.
Analysts say it should be bigger than the 1980 Independence concert where reggae legend Bob Marley performed, and even the 1988 Human Rights concert when Zimbabwe hosted Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Sting, Peter Gabriel, Tracy Chapman and Youssou N’Dour.
Zimswag also say the show should surpass other shows that have seen American R&B stars Joe Thomas, Tevin Campbell and Horace Brown as well as reggae maestros Luciano, Maxi Priest and Sizzla Kalonji performing in recent months. It should be so, owing to the amount of preparation that have gone into the show both in terms of logistics and hospitality.
Akon travelled with his private chef, and his 20-member entourage say they’ll not want to eat anything other than fresh baked fried/grilled fish, roast beef, chicken mix of white or dark meat, roast turkey, spaghetti or lasagne, baked macaroni and cheese, fresh steamed vegetables, fresh maize, greens, spinach and rice.
For the dressing room hospitality backstage yesterday, Akon and his band members had requested bottled water, half of which must be chilled and the other half at room temperature, top-end liquor, Hennessy, which is a firm favourite of American celebrities.
Organisers had to ensure there was fresh juice and “10 pounds of sweet juicy carrot plus four stalks of celery” for Akon. He also wanted to be served with Red Bull energy drink and various Coca-Cola products during the show.
Labels: AKON, HARARE, HIP-HOP, SEAN PAUL
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The true cost of hiring Akon, Sean Paul
By: TSM-TZG
Posted: Sunday, September 5, 2010 1:24 am
AS weary legs trudge out of the National Sports Stadium this morning, few will take time to reflect on the mammoth cost of bringing Akon and Sean Paul into the country, which by any measure was not a stroll in the park.
For starters, the five-star Meikles Hotel, where they were booked, cost US$150 per room, whether single or double. With the entourage for either Sean Paul and Akon reported to be around 22 each, accommodation should have gobbled up around US$20 000, assuming they were booked for three nights — from Thursday till this morning.
Lunch at the same hotel costs US$20 per head with supper coming in at the same price, giving a total of around US$5 500. Thus food and accommodation combined to give a total of around US$25 000.
As for the National Sports Stadium, which is currently being managed by the Ministry of Public Works whilst waiting to be transferred into the hands of the Sports and Recreation Commission, the ministry charged 15 percent of gate-takings. A spokesperson for the ministry said its officials were manning the gates, to tally the number of people who paid to get in. With an expected bumper crowd of about 25 000, the ministry should look forward to pocketing around US$93 000. That is assuming each ticket sells at an average price of US$25.
The stage, lighting and sound system, which was reported to be all state-of-the-art, was secured at a cost of US$135 000, which was confirmed by an official working behind the scenes.
Earlier media reports had suggested that the stage and sound system would match the one used by Joyce Meyer during her recent visit.
As for security, the Zimbabwe Republic Police is rather on the expensive side. According to figures made available by the police, it costs US$3 per hour to hire a constable, while a sergeant costs US$4 per hour and an assistant inspector or sergeant-major US$5. Assuming 100 constables, 50 sergeants and 50 assistant inspectors were hired, this would bring the ZRP bill to around US$17 000, for a 24-hour shift spanning from 6am yesterday morning to 6am this morning.
As for private security details, security companies charge US$300 for 10 guards for 12 hours. With the magnitude of yesterday’s show, around 200 guards would have been hired, bringing the bill to US$12 000. Bouncers are said to charge US$50 per day. Thirty bouncers over four days would gobble up no less than US$6 000.
Though the fees paid to Akon and Sean Paul remained largely speculative, with Karikoga Kaseke, CEO of the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority who are in partnership with Zimswag, citing a confidentiality clause, some respected promoters pointed to figures ranging between US$200 000 and US$250 000 for Akon and around US$150 000 for Sean Paul.
Alick Macheso, Stunner, Winky D — in fact all the local contingent of artistes — would come in at a collective total of around US$10 000. What a pity! Then there are the advertising costs, which can conservatively be put at around US$50 000. Printing of tickets can be estimated at around US$10 000. To that add another US$10 000 for sundry expenses.
Thus as thousands of people thronged the turnstiles at the giant National Sports Stadium yesterday afternoon, Tendai Mupfurutsa and his partners, some who have preferred to work quietly behind the scenes, could have spent about US$770 000, which is no small change.
Meanwhile, although many fans, especially the younger generation, are excited about Akon and Sean Paul’s visit, with some describing it as the next best thing since Bob Marley in April 1980, truth is there have been a number of international acts in the last 30 years.
Probably the biggest show after Bob Marley was the Human Rights Now! Concert, which featured Tracy Chapman, Bruce Springsteen and Yossou N'Dour, among other high-profile musicians. Then there was the Graceland concert, which had Paul Simon headlining and Ladysmith Black Mambazo as the supporting act. And it was a three-day affair!
On the reggae front, a number of international top acts have made it into the country, notably UB40, Aswad, Gregory Isaacs, I-Jah Man Levi, Misty In Roots, Don Carlos, Culture, Jimmy Cliff and, recently, Maxi Priest.
Country music has not been left out, as Don Williams performed at the Harare International Conference Centre and later at the Police Grounds, in what was a ground-breaking live performance for him. American soul singer Percy Sledge, of “When a Man Loves a Woman” fame, also came — twice.
During the ’80s and ’90s when rhumba and kwasa-kwasa ruled the roost, Zimbabwe hosted a number of top-of-the-pile artistes, among them Kanda Bongoman, Pepe Kalle, Kofi Olomide, Yondo Sister, General Defao, Loketo and Werrason.
Even the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, jetted into the country in 1998, although it was a non-performing visit.
Granted, the Akon-Sean Paul visit is probably the highest-profile gig to happen in this country since the turn of the millennium, which made it a must-attend show.
Labels: AKON, HIP-HOP, MEIKLES GROUP
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Nubians use hip-hop to preserve culture
Saturday 24 June 2006
June 23, 2006 (NAIROBI) — On a recent night in downtown Nairobi, beneath a nightclub’s orange neon lights and spinning disco ball, dozens of descendants of Africa’s ancient Nubian tribe gathered in full regalia to perform traditional music.
But the crowd, who turned out in force for Nubian Night, was not there just for a glimpse into the past. About an hour into the concert, the vibe switched from plaintive drumming and chanting to loud, explosive hip-hop.
The concert was designed for Nubians in Kenya — there are believed to be 200,000 of them here — to keep their traditions alive and relevant by fusing them with modern sensibilities.
"In every community, the culture is getting lost," said Yousouph Noah, a 26-year-old rapper who helped organize the concert. "I grew up in this community so I have the knowledge of traditional music. But I just combined it with the music of the younger people, hip-hop."
Nubians came to Kenya from Egypt and Sudan after serving with the British Army in the King’s African Rifles regiment during World War I. The British then settled them in what is now a sprawling Nairobi slum, Kibera, a maze of dwellings topped by rusting iron roofs. Noah lives in Kibera.
"I am using my popularity. All the youth, they listen to me," said Noah, who goes by the name Refigah, the Nubian word for friend, and performs in Arabic with a bit of Swahili.
Many reminders of the ancient civilization of Nubia — located in today’s Southern Egypt and Northern Sudan — were nearly lost with the construction of Egypt’s Aswan High Dam, which was completed in 1971 about 425 miles south of Cairo. The dam forced tens of thousands of Nubians to leave the land that now lies under the dam’s huge reservoir.
Incorporating traditional beliefs into modern music isn’t new - Beninoise singer Angelique Kidjo has been incorporating traditional African sounds into her music for years, and Muslim musicians such as the group Native Deen from the Washington, D.C., area, or Capital D from Chicago have espoused traditional Islamic messages.
The Nubian Night performers, some of whom were Muslim, didn’t carry a religious message — the concert was held at a bar with free-flowing alcohol, which is forbidden under Islam, and one performer was trailed by three scantily clad women while audience members hooted and handed him money.
Noah is Muslim, but knows not all Nubians are, and said the raucous atmosphere of Nubian Night was just part of melding old and new traditions. "I don’t drink alcohol and all that, but I don’t have any problem with" performing in a bar, he said.
(AP)
Labels: HIP-HOP, NUBIA
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Dru-Hill to stage gig in Zimbabwe
By Emmah Chimutembo
United States-based Rhythm and Blues group Dru Hill is expected in Zimbabwe early next month. They are expected to stage a single show in Harare. Dates for the show, are yet to be confirmed. Show organiser Tich Mataz said artistes such as urban groovers, Rocque, Mafrique among others, will be part of the supporting act.
"The group recently reunited and as part of their reunification pact and international union tour, we have initiated with the group to include Zimbabwe as a premier destination," said Mataz.
He said the visit by the group was part of plans to continue promoting the country as a favourable tourist destination.
"The group consists of founding members Sisqo, Nokio, Jazz and a new member Tao. We are expecting them in Harare for a show in September," he said.
The group hit the airwaves in the late 90's with their hit singles like "These are the Times, In my bed, Never make a promise and How Deep Is Your Love.
The group, which is especially popular among the youths, is expected to have all its shows sold out.
Mataz said although arrangements were still sketchy, plans were afoot to hold another show in Bulawayo before touring the resort town of Victoria Falls.
Dru-Hill recently reunited after breaking up in early 2000 and among the members to tour the country will be the talented dancer Sisqo of Unleash the Dragon fame.
The group is coming after a seven year silence and the tour coincides with the group’s major comeback underlined by the release of a new album tentatively titled "Indrupendence Day."
The group’s last album "Dru World Order" was released in 2002 and Indrupendence Day is their latest offering.
Zimbabwe had been experiencing major setbacks in the tourism industry due to bad publicity and bringing international artists in the country was one of the means of marketing the country.
Early this year, Zimbabweans were treated to an experience of a lifetime when RnB singer Joe Thomas visited the country.
Labels: HIP-HOP
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