As part of the last activities of Zimbabwe International Carnival, the Book Café will tonight host the African Convergence, a rare treat for music lovers featuring some of the best artists from Africa.
REPORT BY TINASHE SIBANDA
From Niger comes Alhousseini Anivolla (pictured), a famous lead guitarist and singer of the world renowned desert blues band, Etran Finatawa.
Guy Buttery, an outstanding musician who is hailed as one of South Africa’s finest finger-style guitarists, will collaborate with Anivolla at the show.
“Anivolla met Buttery for the first time in 2009 when both had been chosen to perform in an African project, called Guitafrik, which featured Africa’s best guitarists. They rehearsed for two weeks in Mauritius, together with the Mauritian guitar player Eric Triton,” said Tawanda Mudzonga of Pamberi Trust that is organising the show.
He said the result of their creative meeting was a demo CD and a performance at the Samesma festival in Mauritius in December 2009.
“Although Buttery speaks only a little French and Alhousseini just a little English, the two instantly felt a very strong musical connection.
“Both represent the best of guitar-playing in the North and South of Africa, and will be joined onstage by talented, young Zimbabwean guitarist Bryan Kadengu who rose to fame through local music competition, Starbrite.”
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Alhousseini has been touring around the world since 2004 and to date has performed in 44 countries. All Etran Fnatawa’s albums were produced by World Music Network in London.
Buttery’s debut album When I Grow Up was nominated for Best Instrumental Album of the Year and Best Newcomer at the South African Music Awards.
In 2003, the South African Rock Digest nominated When I Grow Up as one of the top albums of the year. Buttery’s second album Songs from the Cane Fields was also nominated for Best Instrumental Album in 2006 at the South African Music Awards. His third album Fox Hill Lane won a South African Music Award in 2010 for Best Instrumental Album.
The experienced musicians’ combination should bring an exciting show to Book Café.
Their performance will be followed by a presentation by acclaimed Ghanaian vocalist Joy Frempong, backed by her band, Oy.
Frempong is a fast-rising world music star, whose musical style is a genre-bending stew of African-inflected electronica.
Celebrated for her unforgettable melodies, her album First Box Then Walk (2010), received massive acclaim from critics internationally for its unique blend of Afro-electronic funk and improvised vocals.
The show rounds up the Zimbabwe International Carnival Week which was brought to Harare by Pro Helvetia and the Swiss Arts Council in conjunction with Pamberi Trust.
