admin
Kumbirayi Shoniwa Entertainment Reporter
Over a year after musician Andy Brown’s death, his daughter Ammara has embarked on a mission to celebrate her father’s music with the world through the “Andy Brown Forever Project”.
For more than three decades, his guitar riffs and edgy acoustic sound mesmerised both Zimbabweans and the international music scene and shared stages with luminaries such as Salif Keita, Baba Maal, Miriam Makeba and Manu Dibango.
After a long stint with the group Ilanga Andy went solo forming his own band, The Storm with whom he went on to release more than 10 albums.
His music incorporated mbira rhythms, and even the West African kora, as he became one of Zimbabwe’s biggest exports to world music.
Hits like “Mapurisa”, “Mawere Kongonya” and “Shungu” have left an indelible mark on the modern culture of the Zimbabwean people and on the African music landscape.
In fact, Andy’s original track, “Shungu” was picked up and remixed by South African group Revolution who renamed it “ZimConnection” and took the song to unimaginable music chart heights.
In this regard Ammara has launched a project to honour and remember the works of her late father, beginning with a song on which she collaborated with fellow musician Jah Prayzah called “Kure Kure”.
The song is a love song that tells the tale of a couple pining for each other given the distance between them. It’s essentially a great Valentine’s song for couples far apart.
“Being mbira players we had an effortless time writing ‘Kure Kure’ with Jah Prayzah.
“It is a song all of you can connect with and an echo of the way I feel when I think of my dad,” reveals Ammara about the track, which is receiving massive airplay on local radio stations.
“A number of more songs with various artistes are on the way as I try my best to honour him. We are also planning a commemorative gig that will bring together many artists.”
Online Reporter