For its 21st edition, the Harare chapter of Songs From A Room (Sofar) partnered with Optinova Eyecare Zimbabwe to host a uniquely themed concert.
The event was held at the Borrowdale residence of Dr Solomon Guramatunhu, a renowned and respected local and international ophthalmic surgeon.
Nestled in the heart of Borrowdale, the property is a hidden oasis—a sprawling garden estate blanketed in lush, green vegetation. The grounds are an art gallery in their own right, dotted with breath taking, larger-than-life stone sculptures by Zimbabwe's renowned contemporary sculptor, Dominic Benhura.
As guests arrived, they wandered through impressive, sloping landscapes that unveiled stunning panoramic views of the suburb in the distance. Embracing the serene atmosphere, attendees spontaneously spread out across the grass, curling up on camp chairs, blankets, and cushions under the open sky, creating a truly magical and intimate concert experience.
Themed as the ‘Sofar Harare Natural Hair edition,’ the concert was a showcase and celebration of natural hair in all its forms, along with the culture and community surrounding it. For a month, organisers rolled out a campaign inviting people to come to the event in their raw, unfiltered beauty. Music lovers from all walks of life responded to the call by attending the event wearing their natural hair, from wash-day curls, afros, coils, kinks, locs, and shiny bald heads.
For this edition, Sofar Sounds, which connects artists and audiences in 400+ cities worldwide, featured a mix of emerging and established talent. The line-up included Sky Blue & Act, a dynamic musical duo who combine their extensive talents to create a truly genre-defying sound, as well as spoken word artists Tadana Nakai and CXXVII.
The latter, CXXVII, collaborated with dancer Alvin Ngoni to present a multi-sensory experience that fused spoken word and dance. Their set resonated deeply with the multicultural audience.
Seasoned artists Mary Anibal and Trust Samende, the lead guitarist and founding band member of the globetrotting afro-fusion outfit Mokoomba, were also part of the lineup. Samende performing for the second time on the Sofar Harare platform, showcased his versatile guitar work through a mix of popular international covers—including Bobby McFerrin's 'Don't Worry Be Happy' and Bob Marley's 'Stir It Up'—as well as local classics such as Leonard Dembo's 1999 hit 'Chitekete.’
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Anibal, a two-time Sofar performer, played a solo set fresh from her tour of Germany, where she graced more than twelve events and made an appearance on ZDF-Morgenmagazin, a leading German television station. The event was the ideal occasion to welcome her back home. For her set, she was backed by guitarist Tichaona Muchemwa.
Towards the end of her performance, she invited Samende for a jam session, much to the delight of the audience.
“At Sofar we curate memorable experiences not only for our music-loving audiences, but also for artists, by giving them a platform different from their usual live music settings,” event curator Khumbulani Muleya shared with Standard Style.
To highlight the natural hair theme, organisers partnered with local natural hair care brands and stylists such as Afrokink, AU Naturale, Mashonga Roots, and African Crown, who donated freebies that were given out to guests who came to the event wearing their natural hair. “Partnering with Optinova Eyecare Zimbabwe and incentivising guests to come unfiltered were all strategic parts of bringing that theme to life in a meaningful way,” organisers noted.
Optinova Eyecare Zimbabwe, who are now the official Sofar Harare cultural partner, have proven that businesses can support local arts and creative spaces as a way of activating the community's creative spirit while improving their own brand visibility and driving the development of Cultural Creative Industries. The company specialises in eye health, eye surgery, designer spectacles and sunglasses, contact lenses and accessories.
While the location of Sofar events is always kept secret until 36 hours before the show, organisers have hinted that for the next edition, they will announce the location in advance.
They plan to host the 22nd edition at Gemma Griffiths' Mara Mara Restaurant and Cocktail Lounge, situated in Belgravia. The scheduled date is September 20. “The concert will be themed ‘The Sofar Harare Kultural Pop Up at Mara Mara’ and will feature surprise artists, alongside fashion elements curated by Skei & Strobo, a locally based creative agency behind the Fabrik Party Convention.”
Other Sofar shows that took place on the same day in other cities around the world included Bangalore, Dehradun, Bombay (India), Bali (Indonesia) and Plymouth in England.
