TAWANDA MARWIZI
HARARE – Female musicians in Zimbabwe have publicly aired their concern of being snubbed on several major events by promoters and entities in our local entertainment industry.
Ammara Brown is one of the few female musicians that frequents major gigs in and outside the capital.
The segregation has killed their zeal forcing some of them to pursue other avenues to make ends meet.
Some promoters have insisted that they need artists that bring ‘value’ to their gigs as an explanation for snubbing some female musicians in most of their events.
Some divas have not produced hit songs but their stage work has left merrymakers entertained whenever they stage a show.
With performing ground being scarce, divas like Diana Samkange have raised the issue and, at one point, even publicly petitioned the government to intervene.
Over the weekend Jive Zimbabwe, a local promotion company, hosted The Divas Concert as a way of answering their grievances.
The arts promotion company said they were hosting the event to create awareness as well as to unlock the divas’ value to the promoters. Their campaign started with a facilitation of interviews on local television and radio stations followed by a massive concert that was
well subscribed.
Edith Weutonga, Wanai, Ammi Jamanda, Diana Samkange, Vedu dance group, Tete Pipilo, Pauline, DJ Lioness, Queen Kadja, Music Crossroads divas, Sasha, Tendai Chimombe, Caychi, Alice, Mai Titi and MC Tarie were present at the event.
Pauline said it was high time they get recognition as it helps them to realise their full potential.
“This concert came after an outcry that we need to be recognised in the industry. We need to realise our full potential through such platforms. We have been taken for granted yet we have the capacity to move the industry forward,” she said.
Another musician, Wanai, believes a lot needs to be done to promote female musicians in the country.
“I am happy that we have some people who are willing to take us far and let the world realise our full potential,” she said.
Jamanda believes such platforms are very crucial in taking their careers forward.
“I want to thank Jive Zimbabwe for their initiative because as women we now have to showcase our prowess,” she said.
Jive Zimbabwe boss Benjamin Nyandoro said they have answered the call of divas across genres.
“There has been a concern that women are not getting enough recognition in the industry as promoters were not giving them platforms, but we are saying as Jive let us give them the platform to play. We want them to see their full potential in the industry,” he said.
He said they will try to push and negotiate for deals for the divas.
“From now on we have to push for them to move forward and I am happy that we have managed to push this concept,” he said.
