By Tawanda Mudzonga
Published April 6, 2013
In about eight hours from now, two beautiful music divas unite to give a show-stopping performance at The Book Cafe in the Zimbabwean political and commercial capital, Harare. Here, veteran star Busi Ncube is expected to merge her startling vocals and well-honed stage craft with the talented vocals of bass guitarist Edith Weutonga in what promises to be a night of feel-good Zimbabwean music performed by two extremely talented ladies.
Busi Ncube is one of Zimbabwe’s best known and well-loved singers and one of the members of the popular, iconic 1980s band Ilanga. TheTrue Love singer has been singing since she was a young girl, and has forged an enviable career with hit songs sung in her classic, unmistakable voice.
Her latest album, Salulandela, released in 2010, shows that she has lost none of her passion and is still as popular as ever. Ncube is based in Norway, sings in six different languages and has recorded 13 albums in her career.
In 2011, she was nominated for a Songlines award, showing her relevance and continued appeal locally and internationally.
The singer and mbira player last performed in Zimbabwe in December 2012. The sold out show at the Book Cafe with mbira player and singer Hope Masike, shows Zimbabwean audiences have a great deal of love for the legendary songstress.
Joining her on stage is the talented Edith Weutonga, passionate vocalist and one of a handful of female bass guitarists in the world.
Edith began performing in Bulawayo with the all-female band Amakhosikazi, graduated to the band, So What? before forming her own band Edith Weutonga.
Weutonga (which means of the dawn, signifying a new musical direction after she survived a serious car accident) made waves with her first album Utonga, which features the hit tracks Chipendani, Mukaranga and Chipo.
RELATED: Here is a New Urban Sound from Berlin and Nairobi Music Scenes
Her second album entitled Kwacha, will be released in later April 2013.
Edith Weutonga is a familiar face to Zimbabwe audiences as well as internationally. In 2012 she shared the stage with Publish the Quest and Ismael Lo at HIFA. In February 2013 she was invited to perform at the prestigious Festival au Desert music festival in Mali. Due to internal political strife in Mali, the festival was postponed to July when Edith Weutonga will travel to West Africa for the first time and also perform in Nigeria, Ghana and Senegal. She has already toured and been well-received in Kenya and Uganda.
Edith Weutonga and Busi Ncube will collaborate for a mainstage show at the 2013’s HIFA. The two women represent two different generations of music. With about twenty years of musical experience between them, Edith says “There is a mother/daughter relationship between us and Busi has really done a lot to guide me through the music business.”
RELATED: Seychelles Music Star Presents Her Debut Album to the Island’s Minister for Tourism and Culture
Of their Saturday performance, Edith says to expect a spontaneous performance, with the two women experimenting with their sounds to produce something different. On Saturday, the two women will give a preview of their highly anticipated HIFA show at the Book Cafe’s popular, intimate venue.
The Edith Weutonga and Busi Ncube show starts at 8pm at The Book Cafe.