Zimbabwean man makes history at comrades marathon
A Zimbabwean man, Stephen Muzhingi (33) has won the 2009 Comrades marathon, becoming the first Zimbabwean ever to do so.
Muzhingi finished the gruelling race in a time of 5h23:26, the second-fastest recorded time in the 84 years of the marathon and three minutes short of the record, set last year by Leonid Shvetsov or Russia.
10 minutes later the defending champion went past the finish line in second place.
The 89km marathon started at 0530hrs this morning.
There were loud cheers as Muzhingi came to the end of the race, with some people screaming “Go Africa!” in apparent reference to the Russion domination of the marathon in recent years.
I am proud of you Muzh! Way to go!
An unforgettable intimate night with Hope
Hope Masike performs at HIFA 2009
We went. We saw. We were enthralled. Hope Masike neKakuwe’s launch of their debut album was a thrilling experience and helped remind all in attendance that a truly remarkable talent is being born in our midst. The album, simply called Hope, was launched on Friday evening at the Delta Gallery Amphitheatre in Harare on Friday, 8 May 2009 in one of the most well- thought out, creative and well- organised functions by a local artiste.
That Masike had invested her passion and enthusiasm into the occasion was obvious right from the entrance leading into the Delta Gallery premises. On hand to welcome guests with audacious fire eating and juggling antics was a gifted performer whose offering was harbinger of the general ambiance of the whole evening. Spectacle and creative genius were on hand. The pathway was imaginatively lit with a transcendal glow from candles in coloured holders, as if they ethereal lanterns welcoming guests to another world, an enchanting world full of charm and wonder.
This enthralling theme of charm and magic was carried on the amphitheatre itself where the surprisingly huge multi- racial audience who had come to bear witness to what many of us have known all along, Hope Masike neKakuwe are no fly- by night artistes. Rather this eclectic young band is made up of a rare breed of gifted, committed and passionate music virtuosos destined to take their craft to dizzy heights both at home and abroad. Read more
Alick Macheso and Stardom
From a distance, it would seem like Alick Macheso, the king of sungura music, fast-tracked his way to stardom. To many, Macheso came onto the scene in 1998, with his debut album Magariro, which carried Pakutema Munda, probably the most noticeable from that album. But as is almost fashionable in showbizz, the first cut never received any recognition and the following year he was to release Vakiridzo. Similarly, the response was lukewarm and in the coming 12 months, he went back into the studio and came out with Simbaradzo. Read more
Danai Gurira does the red carpet
Filed under: Entertainment, Arts & Culture, Pictures and postcards, Zimbos who rock
US based Zimbabwean actress, Danai Jekesai Gurira pictured at the 18th Annual Gotham Independent Film Awards at the Museum of Finance, Dec 2 2008, New York City.
Photo: Rob Loud (Getty Images)
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Tsitsi Dangarembga and the Greenies story
Tsitsi Dangarembga accepts a surprise gift at the IIFF closing ceremony on Saturday evening (29 Nov)
When Tsitsi was a little girl she joined the Brownies. Her young sister Rudo was upset that she too could not join as she was still too young.
Tsitsi came up with an idea. She would start a new group called the “Greenies” which her little sister could be a part of. So she told all her friends about this new group and had them pay 10 cents to join. Read more
Hope’s songs of redemption
The Making of a Unique Band
“By the rivers of Babylon I sat and wept,” thus sang the long- suffering Hebrews in their time of Babylonian captivity. They found themselves singing God’s song in a strange land. But though the song speaks of tears, it is actually a song of hope and redemption. The very act of singing it meant that the singers had in actual fact symbolically freed themselves. And, in these turbulent times we live in, we need songs and singers with enormous emotional power that can heal our grief, assuage our anxieties and allow us to hope for a better future. Hope Masike neKakuwe have it in them to do just this and more.
Hope, second from left, and members of Kakuwe
The dream and vision to form Kakuwe was born long before Hope decided to enrol at the Zimbabwe College of Music. Born with music in her blood, an independent feisty spirit, Hope was always someone who marched to a different drum, and so it was not surprising that when she decided to take her music seriously, she wanted to form a unique band with a different sound. Read more
