Afro and Beyond concerts keep African artistes on song

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Musicians from Africa are building initiatives that enable them to make a living from their art and celebrate their talent through bringing together on one stage several musicians in different cities across Europe.

Musicians from Africa are building initiatives that enable them to make a living from their art and celebrate their talent through bringing together on one stage several musicians in different cities across Europe.

Simbarashe Manhango

One musician championing such innovation is France-based Zimbabwean Afro-Jazz musician Sandra Mashiringo, popularly known as Queen Mashie.

She is also the surviving sister to the late renowned guitarist Andy Brown.

Queen Mashie has been hosting the concerts dubbed Afro and Beyond across Europe in Berlin, Germany, and France where she is currently living with her family.

As a result of the great response that the resourcefulness has yielded, Queen Mashie will next month host Netherlands-based mbira artist Vimbai Zimuto, who will be joining her in Berlin.

Joining these ladies on stage will be another exciting band based in Berlin, NRG Vibes. The venue will be Chester’s Inn.

Speaking from her base in France, Queen Mashie said the platform is all about artistes taking ownership of their work promoting creative collaboration, hence celebrating the power of music and art and cultivating it in vibrant communities.

“The concept seeks to bring together diverse African musicians to showcase their talent in different parts of Europe,” she said.

“We have so much unrecognised talent out here from different parts of Africa, so I felt a dire need to invent such a platform.

“So, the initiative will involve artists from Zimbabwe, Kenya, Senegal, Nigeria and many others that have shown interest in the initiative.”

Queen Mashie also added this inventiveness was not only focused on promoting Africa, but also meant to cater for international performers, a move that endorses the idea of creative collaborations that cut across boundaries.

“Our hope is to use the event as a platform to attract partners from all over Europe and other continents. Ideally, we need to foster the spirit of working together, showing pride of our diverse cultures and heritage,” Queen Mashie said.

Meanwhile, Queen Mashie is on the brink of launching a studio in France and at the same time pursuing a diploma in Sound Engineering with the Audio Institute of America.

Talking of new material, Queen Mashie’s song Godo that was the lead single on this self-titled album was redone at Monolio Studios fronted by renowned producer Mono Mukundu.