admintrue Zimbabwean music ambassador.
Dudu, as her fans lovingly call her, is expected to stage 16 performances in 14 different towns including concerts at eight major festivals such as the Nonsole Jazz Festival in Trento and the Locomotive Jazz Festival in Lecce.
“I am really excited that I’ll be performing in Italy the home of style. To me, the tour will go a long way as I am going to market Zimbabwe not only in the music sense but the general story about Zimbabwe,” she said.
“Through this, I want to do all I can to dispel negative publicity that is being preached by the Western media.
“My aim is to change the perceptions of the Italians and tell a true story of my country. I hope what I have will represent my identity,” Dudu said.
Her backing group – Colour Blu – accompanied the singer who popularised the “Bob Ashanti” headgear.
The svelte diva also hopes to open up new avenues for Zimbabwean musicians so that many more local artistes will perform in Italy.
“However, it should not just end with me but I would like to see more Zimbabwean groups touring Italy and the rest of Europe,” she said.
Dudu said it was one of her dreams to take her career to a higher level.
“I would be happy if I can get residence at a vocal school as this would improve my singing and enhance my career,” said Manhenga.
This will see her going back for training that involves sharing of experiences, music classes, as well as work on a project that involves music composition and recording with an Italian artiste.
The tour will take the band to towns and cities across Italy including Genoa, Florence, Arezzo, Rome, Sicily and Pisa.
The Colour Blu is also expected to collaborate with top Italian artistes Paolo Frezu (leading Italian jazz trumpeter), Max De Aloe (harmonica), Gino Paoli (composer and musician), Paolo Conte (jazz composer and musician) and top saxophone player Rafael Casarano.
Max de Aloe has been to Zimbabwe and performed at the Italian Embassy-organised October International Jazz Festival in 2010 and Rafael Casarano, who runs a festival in Italy, also performed at the Harare International Festival of the Arts this year.
The tour was made possible with the support of the Italian Embassy, Ethiopian Airways and the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe.
“It is such a humbling experience to meet other artistes for the first time and they believe in you and are willing to go all out to put you on the international map.
“That is what every artiste hopes for and make a major international breakthrough. It is quite exciting to be performing in Italy.
“I am physically and emotionally ready for the experience. It is an opportunity to grow and see how far I can stretch myself artistically when we perform collaborations with international jazz artistes,” Dudu said in an interview last week.
Dudu and Colour Blu will also launch their fourth album titled “Ngangiwe” during the tour.
The album title, which means “I have been embraced” in isiNdebele, was dedicated to the people of Bulawayo from where she was born and raised.
She is a dynamic young Zimbabwean singer/songwriter with an amazing stage delivery.
Great African and jazz singers influence her style, and the dignity of her delivery is a credit to her and to her country, wherever she goes. Dudu’s music has been accurately described as “an afro- jazz adventure” – a fusion of genres: afro, contemporary, Zimbabwe traditional, township, jazz, afro, Latino, and a cultural cross-breed of Zimbabwe’s Manica, Mashona and Matabele rhythms and melodies, with energetic stage work and sizzling vocals.
Online Reporter