In what could be a breakthrough, four Zimbabwean artists are set to attend the London Olympics later this month.
The artists — songbird Hope Masike, upcoming jazz-musician Munya Mataruse and visual artists Masimba Hwati and Portia Zvavahera, will hold a musical and cultural collaboration where they will exhibit Zimbabwean cultural values at the international fora.
Masike and Mataruse are slated to perform in London, while Hwati and Zvavahera are billed for an exchange programme where they will display their artistic works.
These four artists were bankrolled by the Culture Fund of Zimbabwe Trust.
Culture Fund marketing manager Olga Muhwati said arrangements for these artists to travel were in progress although details were still sketchy.
“The intent for these artists to participate in the Olympics is there, but we are still making necessary arrangements and finalising with the organising committee. We shall only be able to divulge more information when all the necessary arrangements are met,” she said.
Masike said: “Yes, I am part of the crew and to be honest, this is the chance for Zimbabweans to show that we are talented in different things. I am also happy that this tour will be a perfect opportunity to market my music and to get exposure to other markets.”
For her it wouldn’t get any better as she is set to embark on the tour at the back of the release of her second album Mbira, Love and Chocolate.
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Hwati is also riding high in the arts circles as he was recently rewarded by European Union for his latest artistic offering Cosmopolitanisms.
This tour will also see 1 000 artists worldwide perform at the London Olympics.
Early this month urban grooves artists Tererai Mugwadi and Pauline Gundidza featured in a song entitled Sizophakama which is meant to encourage participants of the 2012 London Olympics.
The song which was produced by ABRA Records features artists such as Njabulo “Tytan” Nkomo, Joseph “Josmas” Mashoko and Tawanda “Jusa Dementor” Sibotshiwe, Chipo and Tafirenyika Mushuku.
The song was sung in Shona, Ndebele and English. Sizophakama identifies with different audiences in Zimbabwe, bringing a sense of oneness ahead of the Olympics.
