Hope Masike’s hornbill
By Showbiz Writer
For a musician from Highfield it must be annoying for hope Masike to be regarded as an artiste for upmarket audiences only.
After all Killer T sang, “hatisiye hung=hu hwekughetto” in his track Takangodaro.
While Hope’s music is mbira based and the instrument actually has loads of followers in the ghetto, takers in the musical market, particularly on the showbiz scene remain in the upmarket.
According to a statement from the singer, she has decided to fuse her sound with Sulumani Chimbetu’s Dendera in a track titled Tingwarire.
One of the best Nyunga nyunga players on the local scene, the singer says her creative ideas come from the heart.
The statement said: “Hope and Sulu are great artistes who have achieved a lot, award winners whose combination ushers in a new era into the Zimbabwe musical arena. This duet is not only amazing but legendary to say the least. Real authentic music that will be recorded in the books of history.
“The song entitled Tingwarire is about two lovers warning each other against dubious characters who pretend to be friends yet they seek to destroy.”
The track was produced by Clive Mono Mukundu at Monolio Studios in Harare and features mbira superstar Jacob Mafuleni and dendera rhythmist who has stood the taste of time Solo Makore.
The single is to be released on Tuesday November 8 at ZiFM, Power FM, Star FM and Radio Zimbabwe at 10am.
Previously Hope has fused mbira with hip hop in an EP with Zimbabwe Christian Hip Hop band the Monkey Nuts, mbira and scandinavian Jazz with the international trans-cultural band Monoswezi.
Now she taps into dendera with the dendera captain Sulu.
“On the day of the release Hope Masike will make her first donation of sanitary pads to Jairos Jiri and Chinyaradzo Children’s homes under her pledge a pad initiative. She has taken to help restore and maintain girls’ dignity by pledging sanitary pads to girls especially those from marginalised backgrounds,” reads the statement.
“Her endeavour will be taken right round Zimbabwe with plans to donate more in Karoi already underway and a local Karoi business man Mr Matemera and MP Honourable Sarah Mahoka are involved in this humanely exercise.”
Lucky, a member of Hope’s management told Showbiz the idea of the collaboration was aimed at making sure the artiste who has toured half the world gets to endear herself with the bigger audiences.
“She has toured extensively but she remains stuck in the upmarket and that is what we are trying to do. Of course the upmarket is an important audiences but the numbers that actually frequent gigs are in the ghetto and collaborating with artistes like Sulumani should help us get that audience,” he said.
