MIDLANDS State University (MSU) student Tafadzwa Matiure — son of the late mbira exponent, educator and scholar Sheasby Matiure — will be among local artistes set to represent the country at this year’s Zimbabwe Music Festival (Zimfest) from August 9 to 12 at Western Oregon University in the United States.
BY ANESU MUSHAWATU
Matiure will join several other local artistes, including Marimba band leader and drum and dance teacher Abel Mafuleni, vocalist and choir director Tsungai Tsikirai, dancer and instrumentalist Napoleon Jambwa as well as mbira player Alois Mutinhiri.
The 23-year-old musician told NewsDay Life & Style that he was excited that doors were slowly opening in his career. “I will be teaching Zimbabwean traditional music as well as performing at the main stage. Although I am nervous, I am feeling good because I am representing my country through music and dance,” Matiure said.
“I feel like it’s a dream come true and gates are opening slowly. I hope to be at a certain level that will be compatible with Chiwoniso Maraire and hopefully collaborate with great musicians like Oliver Mtukudzi and Thomas Mapfumo.”
Matiure said although he grew up in a musical family and got his inspiration from his father, his interest in music was developed further at Zimbabwe College of Music and MSU, courtesy of his manager Abby Katherine Diaz.
The musician, who was among the 10 finalists of Dreamstar talent search programme who attended the 10-day Langzhou Arts Festival in China as part of a cultural exchange programme, fronts a jazz outfit called Footprints.
Matiure is scheduled to perform at a series of events that include the Bantu Festival and a number of small shows in New York City and Los Angeles, before returning home.
