MORE than a decade after the haunting blend of mbira and violin captivated audiences in Harare, the rare musical pairing returns tomorrow when afro-fusion singer and mbira virtuoso Mary Anibal shares the stage with violinist Verity Norman Tichawangana.
The collaboration echoes a memorable 2008 performance by the late mbira legend Chiwoniso Maraire and Tichawangana — a moment that left a lasting impression on Zimbabwe’s music scene.
The two artists will headline the Sofar Sounds Harare Women’s Month concert at the iconic Chapungu Sculpture Park in Msasa.
Anibal and Tichawangana will perform alongside an all-female quintet of surprise artists, with the identities of three performers being revealed only on the day of the show. Organisers say the secrecy is part of Sofar’s signature approach — encouraging audiences to experience new music without preconceived expectations.
Sofar curator Khumbulani Muleya said the mystery surrounding the line-up helps create a different kind of concert experience.
“It adds to the thrill of discovery and that element of surprise,” he said.
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For this special Women’s Month edition, Sofar has partnered with Sivio Institute, the Embassy of the Netherlands and Emerald Climate Hub, a woman-led organisation that promotes youth and women’s participation in climate discussions. The event will celebrate women’s leadership in music and sustainability while also serving as a fundraiser.
Proceeds from ticket sales will go towards the Sivio’s We Are One-Tiripamwe-Sisonke Fund, a collaborative initiative that supports survivors of gender-based violence (GBV). The fund channels resources to frontline organisations such as Musasa, strengthening their capacity to respond to GBV cases.
“It’s a reminder that small actions, when we take them together, can have a real and lasting impact,” Sivio communications officer Emeldah Takaona told IndependentXtra.
“While it promises to be a great afternoon of music and connection, at its heart it's about standing with survivors of gender-based violence and supporting the organisations that show up for them every day, often with limited resources.”
The concert will also feature a parallel visual art exhibition showcasing the work of women artists, while Star FM — the event’s broadcast partner — will conduct live broadcasts from the venue.
Behind the scenes, production will be supported by a female-inclusive technical team made up of six aspiring sound engineers from HerStage, an initiative founded by Anibal to train young women in stage management, technical production and artist liaison.
Before the concert begins, participants will take part in a one-hour workshop facilitated by gender and climate youth leader Tafadzwa Kurotwi, founder of Emerald Climate Hub, together with Anibal, who also serves as an EU Green and Gender Ambassador. The session will explore the intersection of gender, music and climate advocacy before moving into practical sound engineering training.
“The objective of the workshop is to equip young women with purpose, practical skills, and professional networks. It aims to demonstrate that women belong in every space, on stage, behind the soundboard, and leading conversations on climate while building a replicable model for cross-sectoral empowerment,” Takaona said.
Following the workshop, participants will receive hands-on mentorship from two professional female sound technicians: Zvikomborero Shayamano, an engineer, vocalist and music creative, and Gloria Saungweme, a freelance sound engineer and audio consultant who has worked with the Harare International Festival of the Arts.
Sofar Sounds is globally known for its intimate, secret pop-up concerts staged in unusual venues, with events taking place in more than 250 cities worldwide.
On the same day as the Harare show, Sofar concerts will also be held in cities, including Porto, Madrid, Hamburg, Leipzig, Copenhagen and London, as well as across North America in cities such as New York, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, San Francisco and Vancouver.
This will be the second Sofar concert at Chapungu Sculpture Park, following an Africa Day special held there last May. Founded in 1970 by the late Roy Guthrie, the park began as a gallery dedicated to promoting Zimbabwean stone sculptors and has since evolved into a 15-acre cultural centre featuring more than a thousand sculptures.
Tomorrow’s show will mark Sofar Harare’s 28th concert since its launch.
Over the years, the platform has hosted more than a hundred artists, including Sylent Nqo, Tanga Wekwa Sando, Probeatz, Noluntu J, Bantu Spaceship, Vera & The Husbands and Mann Friday. — Staff Writer.