Mbira icon and Afro Pop star Hope Masike performed at the first edition of the Music in Africa Live, a musical concert hosted by Rooftop Promotions’ Theatre in the Park in the capital, Harare on the 30th of October 2020. Masike was the first artist in a star-studded lineup of young and talented Zimbabwean artists selected to participate in this event which runs until mid-December 2020.
Masike serenaded a very limited live audience while having a regional and global audience after having been away from the scene for about 7 months. Masike who is honoured with various music awards has expressed her appreciation for this recognition in a male-dominated industry.
“It’s a great honour to me and my team to be participating in this project. I think this is a rare opportunity given that we have so many good artists out there and most importantly, we know that the music industry in Zimbabwe is male-dominated” Masike said.
This “physitual” (physical and virtual) approach becomes the normal tapestry of all Theatre in the Park’s programming as we march into the future with boldness and fierce tenacity.
The newly launched project dubbed Music in Africa Live aims to support musicians and the music industry in Africa to navigate challenges and new realities that were introduced by the global Covid-19 pandemic. However, the virtual concert streams live on the Music in Africa website, Theatre in the Park Facebook, and YouTube platforms. Rooftop Promotions producer Daves Guzha said that it has been a great honour for them to be working with Music in Africa in this project. Guzha highlighted the need for the creative sector to support musical artists during and after this global pandemic.
“We are profoundly honoured to have been recognized in the implementation of this noble project which is highly supportive to the music industry in the region and the rest of the continent.
Yes, we need to consider the musical artists and the role they play in our lives” Guzha said.
Other local artists to perform at this event are Afro Jazz upcoming stars Mbeu of the Mhodzi Tribe and Bulawayo based Vuyolwethu Ngwenya affectionately known as Vuyo Brown. For years now, Rooftop Promotions has been an active player in the implementation of regional programs like the then Harare International Theatre Festival, Women Wine, and Words among other events. In addition, Music in Africa has also supported the music industries in Africa through various programs like MIA Connects.
