BY WINSTONE ANTONIO
AFRO-FUSION musician Sasha “Amadhuve” Lishomwa has said artists play a crucial role in the preservation and promotion of culture through their craft.
A protégé and niece of the late popular mbira musician Edna “Mbuya Madhuve” Chizema, Amadhuve Sasha told NewsDay Life & Style that she was determined to continue playing her part in promoting the country’s culture through music.
“As artistes our different works somehow depict our country’s culture and history that is showcased to the world through our creations. I feel elated being able to express my cultural and traditional values through music,” she said.
“Through my music, that encompasses traditional dance performances, I ensure to portray, promote and keep alive our rich Zimbabwean traditional values and culture.”
The former Progress Chipfumo’s dancer and backing vocalist said she felt greatly honoured that her music was being well received and her efforts recognised at national level.
“Being considered to perform at national cultural events such as the official opening of this year’s Culture Week held in Gokwe and also at the unveiling of the Mbuya Nehanda statue, which coincided with Africa Day, was a great honour,” she said.
“As a cultural influencer, I am being involved in a number of cultural activities with the youths in efforts to inculcate traditional norms and values in them.”
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The mbira princess said she had put her nine-track album, which was ready for release, on hold monitoring the COVID-19 situation that has locked the showbiz sector as part of the measures to curb the spread of the virus.
“The pandemic is bad, but if you look at it on the positive side as an artiste, it has brought with it lockdowns that have given me time to create more music for my fans and to learn a lot of traditional values,” she said.
“Above all, we have recorded quite a number of tracks, enough for two albums and we are now working on the visuals for most of the tracks. The video for Machinda is out and available on my YouTube channel.”
Amadhuve, who was recently appointed Bira Ramadzisahwira (a cultural movement founded by female music promoter Nyasha “Machembere” Dope) brand ambassador, has four singles under her sleeve namely 2 Timer, Madhuna Mutuna, Nehanda and Machinda whose video was released last week.
“I used to struggle to record due to financial constraints, but it is now a thing of the past after I was endorsed as Bira Ramadzisahwira’s brand ambassador, who have also become my official sponsors,” she said. “So far things are going well as we have also started working on the visuals for the song Nehanda and if everything goes according to script it should be released early or mid-summer.”
She said as part of her ambassadorial role with Bira Ramadzisahwira she would be engaging in cultural exchange programmes with other countries.
“Bira Ramadzisahwira is helping with the much-needed funding to make my productions easier.
“This will no doubt help my dream of becoming a cultural ambassador of my country come true,” she said.
Follow Winstone on Twitter @widzoanto
