Artists voices discussion: absentee bandleaders part 2

September 9, 2008 by Pamberi Trust ·
Filed under: Art life, Events

Tue 16 Sep 2008 @ The Book Café, 5.30-7pm

On Tuesday 16 September, the 5.30pm Artists Voices Discussion at The Book Café presents Part Two of the topic: “Absentee Bandleaders”, the first of which took place in July, when time overtook the discussion and left artists calling for more.

The panel includes acclaimed Zimbabwean artists Victor Kunonga, Isaac Chirwa, Sam Mataure (still to be confirmed), and chaired by Pamberi Trust Project officer Mandla Ncube.

This 16 Sept discussion will focus on Contracts – what should the artists do? What kind of contracts work? How can band members invest more in enhancing their own skills in the meantime? What works?

The three speakers are all professional and highly respected Zimbabwean artists of much experience as musicians, bandleaders and ’self-managers’ in their time. In the last few years Victor Kunonga has quietly led his group Peace to great popularity in Zimbabwe and further afield, performing and doing session work with other artists also. Isaac Chirwa is a renowned musician and recording engineer who has performed with many bands over a career spanning years, and Sam Mataure is known as a gifted and active drummer who has also achieved much in the promotion of the music, locally and internationally, currently working with Zimbabwe superstar Oliver Mtukudzi.

Project officer Mandla Ncube said “It has been truly good progress to have such a platform for discussion on this issue because it has been a burning issue, and the first discussion has already revealed that there are many ways groups are working, some with contracts, and others without contracts but still progressing through sheer commitment, which also strengthens the artist. It showed that individual artists should be more biased about enhancing their own individual skills, not depending on input from the band, so that each can also stand up and do something on his/her own – and survive independently.”

One of the first projects by Pamberi Trust in its early years, this platform to discuss artistic issues and help build the industry has been going on at the Book Café for some years. Pamberi Trust encourages artists to raise issues which are relevant to them.

All artists are welcome and the discussion will start promptly at 5.30 to make best use of the time, and end by 7pm.

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