MBIRA princess Hope Masike yesterday graduated with a Bachelor of Music in Jazz after successfully completing a degree programme with Africa University in partnership with Zimbabwe College of Music (ZCM).
BY WINSTONE ANTONIO
Masike told NewsDay yesterday that studying for such a degree had enabled her to express herself better than before as a musician.
“I am happy that I have finally graduated, although my studies took me very long because I had to do some tours, some of which I blocked for a while so that I could focus on school work. I am glad that by God’s grace and professional guidance from my director at the College of Music, Mai Jera, I have attained my degree,” she said.
She said her degree was “purely musical” and not business-related.
Masike said,when an artiste acquired education to sharpen their talent, it would help to widen their horizons and take their calling for music to a higher level.
“I have perfected my mbira playing skills and have learnt about other mbira types, their histories and the general Zimbabwean music landscape now and before. So besides being able to play mbira, I can play, perform and even teach Zimbabwean traditional rhythms on many ngoma types, marimba and their dances,” she said.
She said another skill that she had gained through her studies was to read and transcribe music as well as appreciation of other kinds of music.
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“I have a fair appreciation of non-Zimbabwean music histories such as Western classical music and African traditional music. All these add up to (make one) a bit fuller as a musician, more conversant with a wider range of music genres and styles and other music-related matters.”
Masike was, however, quick to point out that one could still be a successful musician without an academic education, adding that even some of their mbira teachers had no “papers” but were extremely skilled in music genres.
“Education comes in different forms. Even if a musician lacks this on-the-desk academic knowledge, it does not mean that they are any less a musician, as some manage to spend hours and hours of study with their grandparents being taught about our culture first hand, and in essence become better authorities in these matters, just without a paper to prove it,” she said.
“My stream was fortunate because we had the Norwegian exchange programme called Fredskopset. Through this addition to our studies, I am now also quite knowledgeable of Mozambican traditional dances and rhythms such as Marabenta.”
Masike saluted Filbert Marova whom she said introduced her to Jazz and made her fall in love with the genre.
Masike said she was yet to achieve what she wants in her music career.
“We always want more and that’s human nature. That is why we only rest when we die. There are many things in my life besides mbira. My fans will know all in good time,” she said.Africa University vice-chancellor Professor Munashe Furusa said the ZMC will soon introduce part-time studies for degrees and diplomas in music that they will monitor. Masike was among the 160 graduands.
