This year Zimfest Harare was scaled back because the team did not believe that they had achieved the level of penetration and gathered the right level of funding to present the event they believed that the Harare launch deserved. In some respects this was disappointing but like the saying goes, when life hands you lemons, make lemonade.

The event that was held provided an excellent opportunity for me to get first hand how Zimbabweans in Zim viewed Zimfest. Comments ranged from the all too familiar “It will never work in Zimbabwe” to “It’s a brilliant idea and just what Zim needs” A lot of people saying it can never be done in Zim or “you need t bring in a big international or SA act”.Ironically from what I have seen so far there is more than an abundance of talent in Zimbabwe and even stranger was the fact that this was being said by Zimbabwean Artists and Dj’s themselves in some instances. How can we believe in you if you do not believe in yourself?

it just seems that we have no faith in us embracing our similarities and embracing our differences. It is obvious that we have got a long way to go in defining our own conciousness and despite our protestations of Zimbabwean pride and bold claims about how talented we are, we are actually a long way off from genuinely believing this.

The defining characteristic of the individuals that are part of the the Zimfest team are that we all believe that the flagship Zimfest will be in Zimbabwe and that we will see Black, White, Shona, Ndebele, Coloured, Indian, Muslim, Jewish, Christian, the spiritual and the non believer come together. We still believe that they will be entertained by a Zimbabwean line up as diverse in respect of genre as Zimbabwe is itself. The BIG question is; how do we get Zimbabweans in Zim to believe and embrace this idea

The event will this year run under the theme “Raindance” and event organisers have promised multi-dimensional exploration of the diversity of Zimbabwean culture through interplay arts and sports.

“The event will feature established artists, schools bands and dance troops. There will also be a DJs arena where people can dance all day to a wide selection of music to suit all tastes,” said the festival’s project manager, Mike Tashaya.

He said that confirmed artistes included hip hop artist Tehn Diamond, rock and indie fusion band Evicted, Chikwata263 and mbira star Hope Masike. Confirmed DJs are Toby Two Shoes and Rex & Regis amongst other,
Other activities will include a sevens rugby and five-aside soccer tournaments in the morning.

“Zimfest Harare is set to deliver a memorable day for everyone and the most important aspect of it is that it is a charity event and funds raised will be channelled towards supporting charities that work in youth development, education, human rights delivery and the provision of basic support for Zimbabweans in need,” added Tashaya.

He said Zimfest would assist a number of organisations, including the Just Children Foundation that looks after needy children.

Zimfest was established in 2001 by a group of Zimbabweans based in the UK and has since grown to become a global brand. The annual festival has been held successfully over the last 12 years. It has grown to become one of the biggest African festivals and last year it attracted over 5 000 people.

The event now takes place in five cities across the globe namely Harare, London, Cape Town, Johannesburg, Perth and Brisbane.

Harare 2012 Line up

Main Stage Artists:
1. Rusike Brothers
2. Jusa Dementor
3. Chikwata 263
4. Evicted
5. Chris Wright
6. Davina Green
7. Synik
8. Hope Masike
9. Cynthia Mare
10. Karizma
11. Jah Prayzah

DJ Dance Arena:
1. Dj Smoove (Deon Fulton)
2. Zuggy
3. Simba Smooth
4. Smooth Spinner (USA)
5. Kimble Rodgers (ZiFM)
6. Toby2Shoes (Cape Town – Headline DJ)
7. Reverb 7 featuring Simba Tags
8. Dj Naida (Power FM)
9. Rob Macson

“Well, what to say?

I’m a journalist and blogger, who loves to write about absolutely anything and everything. Music is my passion, though travelling and food are very close seconds- In the past, I was a tour manager for Defected Records and now I am the director of The Most Wanted Talent entertainment company and the London reporter for Vicious magazine.

Zimfest for me, is an amazing experience… The music, the people it brings together, the food, the vibe, did I mention the food? LOL

I attended a few years ago for the first time and am very excited about participating in this year’s event, where I will be filming, interviewing artists, blogging and generally having a ball. I’m very pleased to see that Zimfest has expanded and has become bigger and better for everyone involved especially with the open mic session. It will be interesting to see new up and coming talent first hand- I can hardly contain my excitement- Let’s just hope the weather holds out!!!!

So if you see me and my cameraman, don’t be shy, come and say hi!!

Leyah x”

Twitter @MostWantedEnts and @Leyahliscious

Zepherin Saint is an enigmatic producer, DJ, talent scout and co-founder of Tribe records, He started his musical journey as a thirteen year old who would enthusiastically pack rigging into the back of van for parties he was too young to attend. That was 1983, when folk transformed their homes into clubs, with a subsequent door tax – to cover breakages. Musical education was a diet administered daily; from funk bands (Parliament, Slave) to UK jazz funk, with soul, lovers rock and country (thanks mum and dad) melted into the pot. 1987 came to fruition with the début release of Give me back your love feat. Carol Leeming, under the pseudonym Boyz in Shock on Jack Trax, regarded as one of the first British garage tracks.

In the years which have elapsed Saint has toured extensively, discovering an infinite appreciation of his music and the genre in general, in the most unexpected of places; Beirut, Syria, Egypt. Feeding into an obsessive love of soul music, Saint has devoted himself to discovering and nurturing new strains from around the globe. Producing a unique blend of afro house, referencing primary roots into a myriad of hypnotic layers, the sound is deep and intoxicating. Saint has attained the optimum position to convey Tribe’s message of One Sound, One People to the masses.

A victim of rape as a child vendor at age six, Betty Makoni’s anger was evoked to fight a crime that invades and violates the most delicate part of a woman. She did not feel physical pain for herself only but also for millions of other women and girls who are invisible and remain in rubble of poverty and recycled in violence for centuries .The loss of her mother due to domestic violence did not enslave her nor keep her a victim. Instead, she used that to rebel against patriarchy and expose its injustices.

Transforming a negative into a positive, Betty established her organisation from a classroom and carried it with passion to become one of the biggest movements for girls. Her story is a testimony of what one woman can do. Rescuing girls from violent and life threatening situations, grooming successors, and infecting every girl and woman with activism are developments that cost nothing but passion. Girl Child Network Worldwide now churns out millions of young activists from everywhere, and her story shows her moneyless strategy of transforming victims into leaders.

“In the past, my story has been shared in bits and pieces. Many times I had to join those bits and pieces for different people who sought to know more. I most appreciate many people round the globe who made me visible by sharing my story given the fact that my very existence had been thrown into doubt due to poverty and violence as a child. Now I have opened a book of my life and anyone with good intent to share my story will first turn to this book and respectfully share my life story within context. Sharing my story in a sentence, paragraph or chapter is just a teaser. I bring a whole book and all truth and only truth to inspire the world. You asked me to share the story and it is over to you now`, said Betty Makoni.

This book ignites the spirit of activism in readers, exploring empowerment, inspiration, courage, and bravery, peace of mind, forgiveness and hope. Through her writing, Betty calls for activism to start in the home and at a personal level – “It is only in that way that silent genocides of women and girls will stop.”

The reader is taken through a more refined personal empowerment process through inspirational magical expressions and words, idioms and symbolism that digs deeper into personal issues that not many women and girls in Africa and elsewhere dare not to speak about. It is a book that breaks all taboos in families, work, community, and just about everywhere.

Betty Makoni presents some ironic situations throughout this book. The NGO sector in Africa is dominated by women working to stop violence against women and girls but ironically the many serious conflicts that are presented in this book involve women against women. The “pull her down attitude” by “dignified beggars” surviving solely on donor funding brings some interesting debates, truths and insights into sustainable development.

Pavla Cveckova, Bsc., MA, DiS who is a passionate practitioner of ‘imperfection in perfection’ of human beings who is one of those honoured to edit and critique Betty Makoni`s autobiography said “This book makes you angry, laugh, smile, think, speak, act and move you forward if ever your life was stuck somewhere.”

The online launch and subsequent book signing ceremonies commenced on 22 June, 2012 which coincided with her 41st birthday

Born in London, Wunmi aka Ibiwunmi Omotayo Olufunke Felicity Olaiya lived in Nigeria for 10 years, returning to the UK at age 14. “Moving back to England, the same feeling of not fitting in haunted me and it was at that point my identity started shifting, like …who am i?” She retreated into a world of her imagination, finding expression in clothes, and in her later teens on the dance floors of London Clubs. “With time I became Wunmigirl!” I became comfortable with me.” The enduring image from Wunmi’s early years in music was in summer 1986 as the dancer silhouetted in Soul II Soul’s ‘Back To Life’ video. As an integral dancer within the Soul II Soul set-up, Wunmi quickly established a bold, self-styled image with flowing braids and her own outrageous clothes which became an invaluable addition to the Funki Dred identity. She was subsequently chosen as an icon of London underground club culture when featured in Kiss FM London’s first advertising campaign as a commercial station.

“I love dancing and love DJs because they can make me travel.“ And travel she did. In the late ‘90s, she teamed up with Kenny “Dope” Gonzalez and Louie Vega for Masters At Work’s classic 1998 re-work of Fela Kuti’s ‘Expensive Sh*t’, ‘M.A.W. Expensive (Tribute To Fela)’ and the equally strong follow-ups, ‘Ekabo’ and ‘Time Is Now’. The tracks paved the way for a slew of Nu Yorican Afro-house workouts from the likes of Dennis Ferrer, Jerome Sydenham and more, and stamped Wunmi’s unique vocal style on dancefloors worldwide. The collab continued on at the Miami Winter Conference and Masters At Work’s legendary Nu Yorican Soul parties in 2000 and 2001 where Wunmi performed through the Havana cigar smoke alongside Stephanie Mills, Jocelyn Brown, Jody Watley, Roy Ayers and more.