Published by the government of Zimbabwe
17 July 2008
Harare — DESPITE female jazz musicians being under-represented at the Winter Jazz Festival which kicks off in the capital tonight, jazz diva Rute Mbangwa has vowed to show the world womenfolk too can do it too.
Mbangwa and Selmor Mtukudzi are the only two female artistes billed to perform during the event.
The diva, who shares the stage with the grandmaster Oliver Mtukudzi and Nigerian sensation Kunle Ayo at the Harare International Conference Centre tonight, stated that she was not the least daunted to be on the same line-up with such heavies, saying she was raring to give jazz lovers a quality performance.
"If this was a competition or a race, I would be feeling the pressure because it would be like fielding a junior to compete with veterans.
"Fortunately, it's not a competition and I am looking forward to sharing the stage with Tuku, who is like my dad, and Ayo."
The well-travelled Mbangwa, who took part in the Standard Bank National Youth Jazz Festival held in Grahamstown, South Africa, last year, said it was not her first time to be on the same bill with renowned artistes.
"At the festival in South Africa, I shared the stage with jazz gurus like Natascha Roth from Germany, Feya Faku, Basi Mahlasera and Loius Mhlanga, among others.
"Such moments inspire one, especially us female jazz artistes, to bring out the best performance.
"Such an opportunity always gives one the chance to learn and master how things are done," she said.
The 22-year-old talented vocalist had a very fertile musical start providing backing support for Tanga wekwa Sando, Afrika Revenge, Fungai Malianga and Mateo, among others.
In 1994, the youthful Mbangwa joined Chipawo where her music talent was honed before being discovered by Sando during a jazz show she was participating in.
Her debut album If Only My Heart Had a Voice was released in 2004. She ranks alongside some of the country's prominent female divas such as Dudu Manhenga, Patience Musa and Prudence Katomeni.
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