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Theatre in the Park will host Steve Makoni this November as part of the Handiende In Concert Tour 2023 which began in January in Mutare.
The concert comes at no better time than coinciding with the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence as the title Handiende speaks to all genders against exploitation.
Also, to be featured at the show is Trevor Nhapi.
Handiende is arguably one of the most successful songs by Steve Makoni and since its release in 1993, the song has stood the test of time in the last 30 years.
The track won Best Selling Single Award in 1994 at the Zimbabwe Music Awards while Leonard Zhakata’s Maruva Enyika won Best Selling Album for that year.
Apparently, Handiende was Steve Makoni’s first Shona single since he started out recording music.
The B side featured another Makoni hit titled Maidei performed in English while on the A side, it was Handiende.
There have been several renditions of Handiende by other musicians including Oliver Mtukudzi, Selmor Mtukudzi, and Tadiwa to mention a few popular ones.
In an interview with the singer/songwriter/performer, Makoni said he was raring to go come November 24.
“So far I am in the process of compiling all the greatest songs that I know fans would want to hear. Handiende was and still is a great song to date and it has been amazing 30 years,” he said.
He explained further when asked why the tour is particularly named after the song: “Well, the song is based on a true story. Long back when I was still in Kwekwe we wanted to launch a project called Was My Child together with Oliver Mtukudzi. So, at the time, there was this foreign guy, in fact, a Greek national. Most people wanted his services but would not want to pay him knowing that he was a foreigner. But this guy grew up in Zimbabwe and he was not leaving the country. He would insist that he was not going anywhere! That is where I got the idea but then the song looks at domestic issues that exploiting each other in one way or the other is bad. Kana vaya vanosakadza vakadzi votanga kuda kuvasiya zvakaipa izvozvo.”
Asked what fans should expect, Makoni said he would play songs from his upcoming album titled Munibho.
“It’s a whole mixed bag both in English and Shona. One of two Cewa/Nyanga thrown in. One Zulu for Cyril Ramaphosa and Fikile Mbalula, not forgetting Lazarus Chakwera (meaning there will be a song or two for everyone. No one will be left out in my presentation at the concert . . . kkkkk. The usual humor and razzmatazz,” he joked.
“Munibho is our own lingua in Rusape which we use for those who don’t understand it you won’t be able to converse with us.”
Makoni boasts six albums to his credit and says there is a whole lot more music coming his way.