Thamsanqa Moyo from Westridge High School left fans crying for more of her music after putting a five-star performance during commemorations of the International Day of the African Child at Unicef’s Harare premises on Friday.
The International Day of the African Child has been celebrated on June 16 every year since 1991, when it was first initiated by the Organisation of African Unity.
The day honours children who participated in the Soweto Uprising in 1976 when thousands of black schoolchildren took to the streets of Soweto, South Africa, in a march more than half a mile long. They protested inferior quality of education and demanded their right to be taught in their own languages.
However, during the match, hundreds of young boys and girls were shot down by security forces. This year, the day drew attention to the lives of African children under the theme, The Rights of Children with Disabilities: The Duty to Protect, Respect, Promote and Fulfil.
In an interview with NewsDay soon after her performance, the youthful upcoming artist, Moyo said she felt honoured to perform at such an event since her music appealed mostly to the youths, urging them to exercise their rights freely without fear.
Music draws people together and it is the easiest way of getting a message across to my peers. My inspiration is to become a role model to the youths and I feel honoured to be given such a platform to perform for the youths on such a special day, as we commemorate our day as youths, said Moyo.
Just like the title of my album, my tracks are about celebrating life. To me life is an everyday party which everyone has to be grateful for because some did not have the opportunity to live, she added.
The young artist said she wanted to be a humanitarian lawyer in the future, challenging childrens rights which are constantly being infringed upon.
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I want to be a humanitarian lawyer who would fight for childrens rights which are constantly being infringed upon, said Moyo.
Moyo said it required commitment to balance school work and music, but most of all, her school work must come first.
School helps one manage his or her resources. I put my school work first and work very hard. Music is my second commitment, she said.
Moyo started singing at the age of seven while she was in Grade Two at Lusitania Primary School. She has risen to become a force to reckon with.
At an early age of 13 while she was in Form One, she was already making noise as she shared the stage with international artists like Joe Thomas and rubbed shoulders with music super star, Oliver Mtukudzi, urban groovers like Stunner and BaShupi, as well as Alexio Kawara.
So far she has performed in New York and also at big events like the Harare International Festival of the Arts and the National Arts Merit Awards.
Moyo is fondly referred to as Tammy by her fans. She is currently the voice representing children through her role as Childline Ambassador.
The upcoming artist was inaugurated as Childline Zimbabwes Ambassador on the November 30, at the age of 13. At the same time she launched her incredible debut album entitled Celebrate Yo Lyf at the event that was hosted by her school, Westridge High.
To show how committed she was to issues of childrens rights, she wrote a song on the Cry For Help asking fellow children to call Freephone 116 for help when abused.
In 2008, Moyo spearheaded the formation of the Uganda African Choir, together with three other colleagues in a charity gig at the Madison Square Garden in New York, entertaining guests on the commemoration of the plight of the African child.
Performers at the event also included Oliver Mtukudzi, Leornard Mapfumo, Shinso Man, Soulbon Band, Winky D and Lipsy.
