THIS year’s edition of Let the Drum Speak Festival is set for Friday at Reps Theatre in Harare where both local and international artistes are expected to perform.
Entertainment Reporter
The festival, which was founded three years ago by internationally acclaimed drummer Blessing “Bleds” Chimanga, will feature Dudu Manhenga, Chiwoniso Maraire, Tariro Negitare, Watershed High School Choir and Italian drummer Max Covini.
The event, which is becoming popular in the country, will this year run under the theme “Shout It The African Way”.
In an interview with NewsDay, Chimanga said preparations for the event were at an advanced stage.
“Let The Drum Speak Festival is on this Friday and we expect this edition to be better than the previous ones since many musicians will be taking turns to thrill the audience,” Chimanga said.
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“Preparations are at a high stage and this year’s theme of the festival was inspired by the thrust of Africa Day which is on May 25. I found it good to have the day in a purely African way.
“Everything for this year’s event will be purely African from decoration, dressing, music and the drumming.”
According to Chimanga, the 90-minute show will see him in solo acts as well as collaborations with other musicians.
Some of the acts to look forward to will be the drumming by the trio of Chimanga, Covini and Blessing Muparutsa before the award-winning Watershed Marimba Band performs a song with Chimanga on drums.
The event is meant to showcase drumbeating skills, and Chimanga is one of the best drummers in the country.