Hope is the magic behind Kakuwe
New. Exciting. Hope Masike (Photo: Pamberi Trust).
Portrait of a Rising Star
An new exciting sound, filled with a fragrance of hope rooted in Zimbabwe, imbued with echoes of Africa and the African Diaspora, has come to the fore. The force behind the magical renaissance is Hope Masike and Kakuwe Band.
Kakuwe’s sound is eclectic fusion music with deep earthy traditional rhythms driven by pulsating nyunganyunga (mbira) strains, infectious West African djembe drumming, a soul nourishing thumping bassline and mystical marimba melodies, with a poignant recorder weaving through it all like a cool breeze.
These are infectious melodies born of a vision nurtured by talented Zimbabwe College of Music Ethnomusicology students in search of their musical identity. They call themselves Kakuwe, after the “Go Away Bird” whose call in the forest warns the rest of forest’s inhabitants of impending danger. The group’s vision and sound is steeped in the Zimbabwean landscape, with its questing spirit reaching out to vibrant Pan- African elements to come with a unique style.
Hope anchors the band with her soulful mbira playing and sensational vocals. The others are: Blessed Rukweza (djembe/ drum), Owen Phiri (western drums), Theresa Muteta (recorder), Elisha Herema (bass) and lately Songwe Limbikani (marimba). Hope, Elisha and Theresa are full time Ethnomusicology students who are part of Umoja (Creating together) incorporating students from Zimbabwe, South Africa, Mozambique, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Norway. Owen and Songwe are teachers at the college while Blessed is also with the Dance Foundation. Kakuwe was born out of a burning passion for music and the quest for an innovative fulfilling sound.
“We are scholars of music…”
“We’re all learning,” says Hope. “We are scholars of music so that we have a deeper and richer understanding of our art form. There are no gurus; the critical aspect is based on that collaborative working relationship where we are all learning from one another.”
This spirit of innovation and perpetual questing for that definitive sound that defines both the individual and the group is, of course, the creative bedrock of great music forms like mbira and jazz. The acclaimed African- American writer, Ralph Ellison once noted that:
“Now, I learned from the jazz musicians I had known as a boy…something of the discipline and devotion to his art required of the artist… These jazzmen…lived for their music intensely. Their driving motivation was neither money nor fame, but the will to achieve the most eloquent expression of idea- emotions the technical mastery of their instruments (which incidentally, some of them wore as a priest wears the cross).”
This devotion is apparent in Kakuwe and for Hope forging a musical identity is a calling. Her dedication is spurred by a feisty determination to overcome whatever obstacles- which might have claimed other female artists before her- in her way.
"The music industry is not an easy one. If you don't have anyone to give you moral support, a kind of tete (aunt) to guide you, offering moral support, advice and wisdom, you might not make it. A lot of men want you for the wrong reasons..." (Photo: Pamberi Trust)
“As women, there isn’t much competition in the industry - there aren’t that many of us around,” Hope laments. “Many of us give up easily. There is this gaping space that has to be filled.”
Hope explains why some would be female artists fall by the wayside: “Gender wise, the men are freer to move around, at any time of day, and as women we don’t have the same amount of mobile freedom, particularly at night. Can you imagine one going to look for a kombi after a show that ends at 11pm or 12 midnight?”
The falling away on the wayside of some female artists actually gives those, like Hope, who are determined to stay the course more space to assert themselves. But the odds can be daunting.
“Society isn’t always helpful,” observes Hope wryly. “Not all parents are supportive of emerging female artists, particularly given the misconception that all showgirls are loose. Yes, you can have support from your immediate family, but for the rest, the extended family, it can be an uphill task. Many would be female artists succumb and give up.”
Hope, however, is made of sterner stuff, driven by an inner passion to pursue a lifelong dream. She is driven by a strong “will to achieve the most eloquent expression of idea- emotions the technical mastery” of her art. She relies not only on he grit but the support of understanding family members, friends and colleagues.
“My ambuya (grandmother) and father have been very supportive. My father is a source of so much valuable wisdom. I also get wisdom from the bible. I read at least a proverb a day as I seek balance in my life,” says Hope.
The value of her approach cannot be underestimated, more so, given the somewhat predatory nature of the industry and environment she has to work in.
“The music industry is not an easy one. If you don’t have anyone to give you moral support, a kind of tete (aunt) to guide you, offering moral support, advice and wisdom, you might not make it. A lot of men want you for the wrong reasons; including the enhancement of their own status and some of them are players. Of course, some of them are genuine,” observes Hope.
How does she reinforce her survival strategies? She shrugs, smiles and says with wisdom belying her age (24):
“The most important thing is to find your centre, find yourself and knowing who you are. This gives you a base and principles which guide you in what to and what not to do. I rely on my core Christian values, which held me know who I am and God. This is my protective shield.”
Working in a secular and sometimes largely hedonistic environment in order to fulfil her dream, Hope has had to dig deep inside her to keep anchored without compromising her art and gift. She is not a religious fanatic; she just has a strong religious moral centre. She explains: “I try to be Christian- like in my every day life without being too religious.”
“I try to be Christian- like in my every day life without being too religious.”
She also seeks nurture and succour from kindred spirits, some from the age divide.
“I surround myself with older people who are fountains of wisdom. I also surround myself with positive people who I see as positive instruments that will help me channel my talent in the right direction, without selling my soul. I also have to learn to walk away from a situation before it gets too hot.”
This kind of personal discipline comes in handy for all art requires discipline and hard work before the fruits of success can be achieved. Hope has also training in Fine Art and Fashion Design. She is currently pursuing studies in Ethnomusicology in order to deepen her understanding of music and to broaden her mind. “Ethnomusicology helps open your mind,” she says.
Not surprisingly her grounding in Fine Art is helping her mastery of music.
“Fine Art helped sharpen my way of thinking and perception, because when I was a student, things became quiet harsh in Zimbabwe and the college could not supply the material we needed and we had to go out there and improvise. We were trained to think outside the box, cross boundaries creatively- the basic structure being to look for something different, break the rules artistically. You might end up with what some people might perceive to be arty music but that’s not necessarily a bad thing, for there will always be people out there who appreciate what you are doing.”
…with Kakuwe, Hope finds herself striving to “do this crazy thing- strike a balance that satisfies your artistic needs and your audience, in order to survive.”
Thus with Kakuwe, Hope finds herself striving to “do this crazy thing- strike a balance that satisfies your artistic needs and your audience, in order to survive.”
Evidence on the ground is that they are on their way to success. Kakuwe is a band with a difference, in search of a different but engaging sound built on the foundations of the timeless artistic quest for perfection. The rhythms are distinctly Zimbabwean, fused with catch jazzy elements where the individual and the group are involved in the creation of a groundbreaking vision. And Hope Masike, with her sultry vocals, is the driving force behind that endeavour. A phenomenal beauty is being born here.
Related Articles
- Out of the ruins, a vision of Hope is born
- Hope’s songs of redemption
- An unforgettable intimate night with Hope
- The Uncertainty of Hope by Valerie Tagwira- a discussion
- Artists and professionalism
- Clare Nyakujara- Jazz Has a New Face
- Artists voices discussion: absentee bandleaders part 2
- Sistaz Open Mic: Celebrating progress
- Power FM DJs- Kudzi Marudza
- Blessing’s HIFA Diary- Day 2, Magic
- The Book Cafe & Mannenberg, 12-20 December 2008
- This week @ the Book Café and Mannenberg: October 16 - 25
Give me a Random Article
Comments
3 Responses to “Hope is the magic behind Kakuwe”
Trackbacks
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
On The Zimbo Jam- Zambezi Express Wins Edinburgh Fringe AwardIn June last year, commenting about their now famous show, The Zambezi Express, on their Facebook profile, Bulawayo production company Siyaya said, "We aim to be the best original arts company producing original work of art that is unique to Zimbabwe, Africa and the world at large." They got one step closer to that dream at the end of last month when they were recognised for their outstanding performance at the Edinburgh Fringe in the UK.
- Akon Arrives in Harare Amid Hysterical ScenesThere was chaos at the Harare International Airport earlier this afternoon as hundreds of Akon fans waited for their icon to land. When he finally appeared from the terminal- not through the normal exit- just after 1400hrs, there were scenes of hysteria as people screamed his name, reached out to touch his hand and some burst into tears.
- The Akon Countdown...It is now just a matter of hours before Hip Hop icon, Akon, lands in Zimbabwe for what is already one of the most widely talked about shows in Zimbabwe’s entertainment history. You can feel the excitement in everyone you talk to; they want to be there when history is made. Even people who have never been to a live concert in their lives are talking of buying tickets. If you think that’s something, wait till Akon lands this afternoon. We’re expecting a show of fanaticism the likes of which we have never seen before…
- Zambezi Express Wins Edinburgh Fringe Award
Great article Mupfudza. Our artists need support like this. I was just reading the article by Batsirai on how festivals don’t respect local artists and I think- as suggested by Shingairai- it starts us respecting each other.
Hope has a great future ahead of her. She is passionate about her music. I really enjoyed this article. More entertainment stories please!
As the saying goes “Hope springs eternal”