Congolese act at Hifa

Yeukai Karengezeka Arts Correspondent
One of the finest Congolese outfits, Black Bazaar will be entertaining fans at this year’s edition of the Harare International Festival of the Arts on May 2 at the Telecel Main Stage.
The outfit, which is led by two remarkable artistes on the Congolese music scene, Modogo Abarambwa and Sam Tshintu, is expected to rock fans.

It is a delight to listen to a genre that was originally regarded as dance music.

Black Bazaar’s music is full of atmosphere and deeply rooted in musical tradition, while also opening up a distinctive new dimension, described by the German press as “Dancehall Rumba”.

The sounds of Kinshasa, Brazzaville, Praia and Lagos come together alongside the traditional rhythms and beats that have set the nightclubs of the African diaspora on fire.

Black Bazar is a musical concept introduced and produced by the writer Alain Mabanckou in 2012 with the support of the label “Lusafrica” and managed by Caroline Blache.

Their first album featured a return to the musical roots of Congolese Rumba. Audiences were enthusiastic and the numerous artists involved in the project hailed as “the new masters of the African scene in Paris”.

This “first round” introduced the musical combo Black Bazar and new audiences are continuing to discover them at some of the world”s best music festivals.

Some of their popular songs include “Balabala”, “Beau gosse”, “Boussole” and “Face A”.

This year’s Hifa runs from April 29 to May 4.