That was August 2008. Since then Graeme has conquered the Channel; those wild ideas are now the eXtreme 5 Challenge, and Graeme, myself and another friend Mike have covered the length and breadth of the UK under our own power. See the full story of that on www.extreme5challenge.co.uk.

Four Challenges down we returned from our adventures brimming with ideas to raise money for charity and satisfy the 5th Challenge. Along the way we’d had a lot of fun; met some great people; got a bit fitter, and we thought others would enjoy something similar. So we set up a one day Challenge involving swimming; kayaking; cycling and running that participants can do for their own favourite charity.

You may not know it but this year that Challenge takes place at the Thames Young Mariners in Richmond. It’s the third running of the event which is proving increasingly popular with people of all ages and abilities. (You don’t have to be super fit unless you take on the individual challenge – most people do it as a team of 4.)

The people that took part, the charities that benefitted and our own memory banks now contain a lot more snapshots. If you want to be part of a unique challenge in 2012 or support a particular cause this article might just become one of you life’s snapshots.

Simon Grint

Dj Macson – I love House music, ever since the first time I put a needle to a record in front of a live crowd learning the Trade from Victor Bravo, The late great Anthony Matheson, Otis the Flow Fraser and Nigel Brown. Dj Macson is exciting! Exciting in that he has his own thing and he sticks to it unapologetically.

Comrade Fatso – Sam Monro is the epitome of roots. It’s a strange one… where most would have you dismiss him as a “third world warrior” I have the privilege of knowing him and knowing he is real, as real as they come. There is a steely eyed belief in every word quietly disguised as a smile. Sam Monro is breaking down boundaries

Tagz Simba – I came across his music on YouTube. They say the mark of genius is simplicity and perfection is not when there is nothing more to add but rather when there is nothing left to take away. Simply, the brilliance here is the ability to be soulful, to be very modern and very African and at the same time keep it simple and that’s a rare talent.

Fame Nickles, another one out of my home town, Bulawayo Stand Up! Hip hop is sometimes about the beat, sometimes about the vibe but should always be about the lyric. The ability to fold words into a story is special. I caught this on YouTube as well and was instantly taken in by the nuanced simplicity and layered depth. No pretentiousness or posturing just simple honest words

Stannee – This is the cat that said it’s cool; I’ll do this for you guys… I’ll do it for Zim. In 2011 almost completely unknown to the crowd he took the stage at Zimfest London and with his partner Konklude added a new dimension to the event. These guys are up front hip hop but with a natural homage to the old skool.

Meeghan Mckenzie – Based in Canada, We have not heard enough from Meeghan….yet but anyone who can sit on a stool, backed only by a guitar and captivate, has a special talent. Judge for yourself

Mixolis O’fishal – The man who says he is going to retire lol So many Dj’s have done that and then found that the thing they love, the thing they are genuinely good at is the thing the feel they have to walk away from. My man dropped bombs at Zimfest London 2011 and was easily the most remarkable performance at least for me there

Tenda McFly – being a poet myself anyone with the ability to express themselves in poem has my respect, more so if that expression is hip hop but with genuine poetic ability beyond just rhyming couplets. Based in Brisbane Tenda is genuinely unique. Both a product and expression of diversity that should never be ignored.

Outspoken….. I am not even going to say anything the brother speaks for himself. My favorite Zimbabwean artist hands down at the moment

Music as always is a matter of taste and opinion, we would love to get a feel for your taste and which young Zimbabwean artists you are in to right now

Peace and love always

The Zimfest Team

A bit of background though,..

I am 21 year old rap artist and spoken word poet living in Brisbane. My music borrows a lot from other genre’s and can be best described as an amalgamation of indie pop culture and hip hop. My influences range from the xx, phoenix and miike snow to Theophillus London, Jamie-T and Kanye West.

I would very much like to be featured on your website and I look forward to hearing back from you. Please do not hesitate to contact me directly if you need anymore information.

Peace Love n’ Purple Lettuce

Tenda

www.TendaMcFly.bandcamp.com
www.twitter.com/tendacanfly
www.facebook.com/pages/Tenda-McFly/62187168828

See DJ Macson live at Zimfest Harare 10/12/2011

Twenty somethin DJ Naida is a Harare based music phenom, multi talented with skills in djing, production, songwriting, dance and presenting. Her reputation has grown from strength to strength mainly based on her own steely determination to succeed and her tremendous talent.

“I’m doing this for everyone who has ever dared to dream.”

In primary she was represented her school in the marimba team, played the piano for school assemblies and was singing in the school choir. She continued with this in high school leading to a life changing discovery hip hop music and the poetic skill of rapping.

At 14 a studio was set up close to her home and her love for music lead her there. It was at that studio that she recorded her first song with her sister and a high school friend. By the time she was 18 she had recorded a few tracks and began venturing into Music Production producing a few tracks for artists who frequented the studio she was working with at the time.

in 2006 Dj NAida as she had become known headed to South Africa to pursue her studies attending the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University where she developed an interest in Djing. In 2008 A friend introduced her to local DJ Silo a club DJ in Port Elizabeth. Silo became her mentor her teaching her the basics of the art of DJing. With her background in production, it was relatively easy for her to grasp the fundamentals.

“ I refuse to give up on her dream even though my love for music has been tainted by industry egos, hustlers, fake promoters, opportunists and thieves”"

In 2008 she completed her degree and returned to Zimbabwe but returned to SA in 2009 to work as a Financial Planner for Standard Bank and promptly started DJing around in PE quickly developing a solid reputation around the city as one of the few female DJs in the city.

She returned to Zimbabwe late 2009 and found her way to Stars Night club where she played for a bit alongside D&L. In 2010 she took part in the “Clint, Al & Rax DJ Battle” as the only female participant and won further enhancing her reputation.

Dj Naida is currently working on a Mixtape entitled H.O.M.E (Heart Of ME) which is a CD comprising original compositions featuring some of Zimbabwe’s’ most talented artists! The Mixtape, which has a HipHop, Dancehall, Soul and House feel scheduled to be launched on the 25th of November at Alliance Francais in Harare.

“Being a female in a male dominated industry has its disadvantages. It has taken her a long time to be accepted as a DJ and a talented DJ at that. Most people write you off before anything is said or done” she says “but I refuse to give up on her dream even though my love for music has been tainted by industry egos, hustlers, fake promoters, opportunists and thieves” she poignantly goes on “I’m doing this for everyone who has ever dared to dream. The impossible is possible…”

Dj Naida is now known as Zimbabwe’s No.1 Female DJ and continues to blaze dance floors and radios nationwideand remains determined to change the face of Zimbabwean entertainment, one day at a time.

Download this mixtape here

South African House Edition [Oct 2011]Kicking off with the Uber talented and sensual sounds of Mi Casa, followed by a wealth of talent hailing from South Africa. All except for the lovely AtJazz who’s great remix of “Take me Back” managed to slip in half way through. Playlist as follows:

Give me your Love Mi Casa
Stay Nu Town Soul
Dlwati’s Poem Rocco f. Phumeza
Ke Sharp Ka Wena DJ D’vine & Bullet
So So Deep Colourblind f.Attovise
Make it Happen 340ml ft Thandiswa (DJ Kent Remix)
Mumi Wango Black Motion
Tlanga G.Man
You in Mind PolyRhythm f.A.Salih (Master Kev)
Take me Back AtJazz
Blind Faith ZANO – DJ Hypnosis Dub
Ka Orata African Roots f.Sipho
Imoto Professor
Yini Ngawe Culoe De Song f.Shota
Induku Enhle Bucie f.Demor

So we’re now on double figures – Vol 10!!! I remember Vol 1 (also S.A House Edition) like it was yesterday! Its been an absolute pleasure mixing the Soul Seductive Sessions for you guys and I’d like to send out a big Thank you to all of you for listening, downloading, sharing, commenting and requesting – I’m uber grateful, believe me….

Vol 11 coming real soon as theres too many tunes to unleash….. Oi yoi!! X

http://www.theatre503.com/whats-on/swallowingdark/