By Masimba Mukichi.
On August 3, 2019 all UK roads led to the Zim Festival at Colesdale Farm, Potters Bar in London. Zim Festival is the brain child of the Zimbabweans based in the UK. This year’s event headline sponsored by Express Links Money Transfer.
Zimfest is an annual event founded in 2001 to celebrate the music, art and culture of the great nation of Zimbabwe. Non Zimbabweans are also welcome.
Zim Festival 2019 was well attended. People from all walks of life thronged Colesdale Farm to sample Zimbabwean Cuisine, art, music and culture. Esteemed musicians were lined up to showcase their talents at this perennial event. Amongst the performers were the likes of Dr Thomas Mapfumo, Winky D, Ex Q, Enzo Ishall, Gemma Griffiths, Tsungai Tsikirai, Ogga Kattalog, Cooger to mention but a few. To be fair to them all, they did a splendid job. Congratulation to you all.
However in view there were some musicians who were outstanding in wooing the revellers than others. I have decided to rank the top four performers based on video clips of their performance and the reaction of the revellers during their performance of various songs.
Every one is entitled to his or her opinion, that’s what freedom of speech dictates.
My humble opinion and observation has forced me place on position one, Gemma Griffiths and Winky D. Their duet ‘Mu Garden’ stole the show. It resonated very well with the audience. lt was very current and topical. The song relates very well to one of the basic needs of life, love. The audience received it well by humming the lyrics along and dancing creatively every one present danced creatively as the duet sang the song. Here is the link to their performance.:
Wink D’s song Babie rinobhowa was the icing on the cake and it helped to seal their number one position. Link is
On position two Enzo Ishall’s Zim dancehall song Vanodherera took the gong. Link is
Kanjiva was also his powerful offering and was well received. Link:
and
https://youtu.be/xscyAT6uetls
Dr Thomas Mukanya the guru of Chimurenga music settled comfortable on position three. Kudos to him on traditional spiritual songs. He did a splendid job but in my view was surpassed by the above mentioned artists because their songs resonated well with the revellers possibly because they were ‘very current and topical’.
Mukanya’s songs Shumba, Chirombo, Chinobvira were indeed ‘ topical but not current. His song Bhutsu Mutandarikwa is indeed a very old tired song which seems not to appeal much to the current crop of revellers. Here are the links of some of Mukanya’s offering on the event. Shumba
https://youtu.be/Ly84m78FNB
Chinobvira
and Bhutsu Mutandarikwa
Ex Q performed very well and is humbly placed on the fourth position. Link is
ZimFest came, and it’s gone. This evaluation was done in the spirit of inspiring our artist to strive more to offer ‘ current and topical music ‘which resonates more with the current crop of revellers. Above all, the artists showcased their talents and we look forward to 2020 Zim Festival with a difference
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