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Passage” emphasises an acknowledged crossing over.
It speaks of the journeys, challenges and victories, which deserve recognition and must be celebrated.
“This event is set to promote, inspire and give insight, by showcasing the young, dynamic, sister, wife, storyteller, artiste and African, who has transitioned to new stages and levels of her career and ultimately life”.
In a television interview last year, Dudu — as she is popularly known in music circles — described herself
as a “60-year-old trapped in the body of a 29-year-old” while trying to explain her love for jazz music.
With four albums under her belt now and easily one of Zimbabwe’s most successful musical talents, Dudu insists she did not set out to sing jazz, but so many people told her “this is the box I belong in”.
She has toured Italy where besides staging gigs, she also undertook cultural exchange programmes during which she perfected her art.
Backed by Color Blu, Dudu is adored by many for not just her singing but also philanthropic work which she has used her influence as a musician to improve the lives of the poor.
Her style is influenced by great African and jazz singers, and the dignity of her delivery is a credit to her and to her country, wherever she goes.
Her 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 rhythms and melodies, with energetic stage work and sizzling vocals.
Performing professionally since the age of 16, Dudu emerged as a leader on the Zimbabwean music scene after long stints as backing vocalist for several top artistes including Oliver Mtukudzi and the Black Spirits, Steve Dyer, Louis Mhlanga, Tanga Wekwa Sando and Dumi Ngulube, while studying at the Zimbabwe College of Music in Harare.
In 2001, she formed the group Color Blu, along with her husband and drummer Blessing Muparutsa.
They recorded their debut nine-track afro jazz fusion album “Out of the Blu” in 2003, which was warmly received by the music-loving public and contained songs which became hits like “Mvura”, “Bengimthandile” and “Madlamini”.
Dudu is also active in music rights and anti-piracy issues, gender and anti-violence, and is a major contributor to the FLAME (Female Literary Arts Music Enterprise) programme, for the development and promotion of women artistes into the mainstream of the arts, which is run by Harare-based arts organisation Pamberi Trust.
She chairs the recently registered Association for Women in Performing Arts in Zimbabwe (AWIPAZ), a national body that will see to creating an arts industry where female artistes are given equal recognition and are able to develop. In recognition of her passion and national contribution to the arts industry, Dudu has been appointed by the Ministry of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture onto the board of the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe, a post she will hold for the next three
years.
Also on the bill at Dudu’s show are the Cool Crooners, a Bulawayo-based outfit which has stood the test of time.
The Cool Crooners have been featured on almost all the international jazz festivals held in the country and they are known for the fine delivery on stage.
Their classic hit, “Ibulugwa Lami”, has taken the jazz granddads places including France, where they had the opportunity to tour and launch their debut album.
Other supporting acts include award-winning McIntosh Jerahuni, 2010 nominee and ballerina Maylene Chenjerai, poet Batsi Chigama and Uza. Bookings are at The Spotlight, Reps Theatre.
Online Reporter