The Herald (Harare)
Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
5 November 2009
Harare — Versatile Rina Mushonga who is basking in the glory of her new album titled 'Hambayi, Let's Go' is to perform her first major gig at The Mannenberg tomorrow since her return from the Netherlands last year.
Backed by her group the Zimfellas, the diva will use the show to officially launch her debut album starting at 6pm.
The album is a medley of sound for Zimbabwe, fresh and vibrant, cleverly fused with diverse musical cultures and styles put together to bring out a sound that is uniquely Zimbabwean.
Traditional but modern Afro pop vibes from the Zimfellas, an acoustic-percussion ensemble synonymous with African voices, complements Rina's strong guitar rhythms and folk/rock melodies.
Formerly based in the Netherlands, Rina returned to Zimbabwe late last year basically for two reasons, firstly she wanted to explore and connect with her musical heritage and secondly to further immerse herself in the Zimbabwean cultural scene.
She found was a group of talented young musicians in Mutare who slowly carved their own niche in the local scene and equally searching for new musical horizons.
Fusing together their different musical experiences, Rina's residing mainly in folk pop and the Zimfella's cool brand of traditional Zimbabwean music, they have managed to find common ground and create an altogether vibrant new sound.
Their quest to collectively write catchy, sensitive and relevant music reflecting the worlds they come from and indeed the future they hope for has been greatly successful.
She has produced music that delights in the beauty and strength of Zimbabwe as well as seeking to put traditional music on the spotlight.
Rina sticks very much to her folk-pop sensibilities, continuing the trend of her soulful love songs of heart ache and loss, whilst simultaneously injecting her music with a new spirit.
The resounding harmonies of Zimfella vocals, pounding beat of the djembe and ngoma as well as the mbira, makes her sound something out of the ordinary.
The songs on the debut CD are similarly diverse, from Warrior, a song that celebrates independent, strong Zimbabwean women and social commentary in Hakuna maGetz to Move Your World that calls the youths to build their own future.
The Mutare-based group blazed onto the Zimbabwe musical scene at this year's Harare International Festival of the Arts and has fitted well into the music scene in the capital gaining recognition from artistes and audiences alike.
Last month the group entertained crowds at the October Beer Fest hosted by the Zimbabwe German Society/Goethe Zentrum. In their short time in the capital they have attracted the attention of people of all walks of life.
They like it and they enjoy themselves.
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