Ammi leads artistes vaccination drive

Standard People
BY STYLE REPORTER Afro-fusion musician Ammi Jamanda has encouraged fellow artistes to get vaccinated against the coronavirus. On Thursday, the musician, who is also the treasurer of the Zimbabwe Musicians Union (Zimu), was part of a group of artistes led by National Arts  Council of Zimbabwe director Nicholas Moyo, who got the life-saving jab as […]

BY STYLE REPORTER

Afro-fusion musician Ammi Jamanda has encouraged fellow artistes to get vaccinated against the coronavirus.

On Thursday, the musician, who is also the treasurer of the Zimbabwe Musicians Union (Zimu), was part of a group of artistes led by National Arts  Council of Zimbabwe director Nicholas Moyo, who got the life-saving jab as the country revs up the rollout of Covid-19 vaccines across sectors.

Zimu posted on its Facebook page supporting the initiative taken by the artistes: “Today our Zimu leadership Chioneso Rutsito and Ammi Jamanda joined the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe director Mr Nicholas Moyo and did the right thing. They got vaccinated. You can too, at a clinic near you! We can beat this… together, ”said the union.

Ammi later told Standard Style that her decision to get vaccinated was meant to motivate other musicians to follow suit.

“I encourage all artistes to get vaccinated to protect themselves and their families. Artistes are also role models, so if they start embracing the idea of getting vaccinated, it would instill confidence in all Zimbabweans and they will do likewise,” she said.

“If at least three-quarters of the artistes get vaccinated, we can instill confidence in the government, and bars and other social spaces could be opened. So, hey artistes, let’s go out there and get vaccinated.”

The musician lamented how the Covid-19 pandemic has affected their profession.

“Covid-19 has affected us greatly because even way before the advent of the pandemic, the arts industry was difficult to operate in. We were surviving on live shows and nothing more. And with these lockdowns, most artists are struggling to put a decent meal on the table,” she said.

“As for myself, Covid-19 affected me a lot because I am finding it hard to get money to pay for studio sessions and record as well as money to sustain the band.”

However, Ammi said despite the setbacks brought about by Covid-19, she was working on an album titled Gata Rinoshura Materu to be released in October.

Ammi has released one album titled Ndozvidemba and two singles Mwari Ndipei Murume and Ruvarangu, which features Thomas Mapfumo.