CHIWONISO Maraire has joined the crew of local artistes that are billed to perform alongside South African diva Lira on Friday at 7Arts Theatre in Avondale, Harare.
Entertainment Reporter
Initially, promoters of the show had only signed Alexio Kawara and Prudence Katomeni-Mbofana to prepare the stage for Lira.
One of the organisers, Chris Musabayana, said the coming in of Maraire in the combination would ensure variety and diversity.
Maraire is among the few female musicians with great experience of international performances. At this year’s Harare International Festival of Arts, Senegalese musician Baaba Maal acknowledged Maraire’s international profile and called her from the crowd to the stage for an impromptu joint act.
Her experience will add weight to the Friday gig although attention is likely to be tilted towards Lira who will be making her second appearance on Zimbabwean stage. Lira had her debut Harare gig in 2011 when she performed with Cool Crooners, Dudu Manhenga, Victor Kunonga, Jazz Invitation and couple Selmor Mtukudzi and Tendai Manatsa.
Musabayana is optimistic of a good night out for local revellers.
“We are looking forward to a good show. It will be a show for executives and an audience that wants to enjoy soulful music,” Musabayana said.
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“Our local performers have expressed eagerness to complement the South African musician in a big way. Lira is a good performer and people will definitely have a good time.”
Lira was born Lerato Molapo in the Daveyton township in Johannesburg’s East Rand. She is a multi-platinum selling artistes and a seven-time South African Music Award winner.
Speaking after her debut performance in Harare, Lira described herself as a diverse artist.
“I didn’t want to be boxed in, I am very diverse. But now, I’ve refined Lira, and my music now has a quality of self-awareness. If anything, my music represents possibility, and I describe it as Afro-soul,” she said.
According to Wikipedia, she grew up listening to Miriam Makeba, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin and Nina Simone who would eventually inspire her own songwriting. She began performing live at the age of 16, singing both cover versions and self-penned songs.
As an undergraduate student, Lira studied accounting and used her skills to exchange for recording time at a local studio, resulting in her first demo at the age of 18. Upon graduation, Lira continued in accounting for two years before taking music full-time.
In 2000 she was discovered by musician and producer Arthur Mafokate, who signed her to his record label, 999 Music and helped with the release of her debut album, All My Love (2003).
