Marking Women’s Day at Book Cafe

the day.
The show starts at 3pm and the line-up includes mbira princess Hope Masike, recently returned from a trip to Europe; popular singer-songwriters Rute Mbangwa and Clare Nyakujara, guitarist Rudo Chasi, Zimbabwe-rocker Kessia Magosha recently returned from a rock music programme in Johannesburg; the afrocentric Mafriq featuring lead singer and front-lady Pauline Gundidza, and a special performance of “3 Generations”: afrojazz-istas Dudu Manhenga, up and coming “uZanele” and Clare Nyakujara.

The spoken word will be carried by poets Roxy “Xapa” Mathazia, Batsirai Chigama, Charity Hutete, and RuTendo DeNise, with Wadzanai Chiuriri as MC.

The Sistaz Open Mic “after-party” continues from 5.30pm with the lady of love songs Plaxedes Wenyika and her backing band, until 7pm, featuring songs from her albums “Tisa Paradzane”, “Kamumhanzi’, “Sentiments”, “Full Circle” and her very latest single “Kuva Newe” (Being With You), hot from the studio and expected on the airwaves next week.

The Women’s Day commemoration by Pamberi Trust is supported in part by the Embassy of Canada for the second year running.

Other events to mark the week at Book Cafe include a free screening presented by Women Filmmakers of Zimbabwe on March 6 of the film “CUT” – a confrontation with the brutal practice of female genital mutilation; a delightful evening performance on Thursday 7 March by three of Zimbabwe’s popular women artists entitled ‘3Generations: Dudu, Uzanele and Clare’, and a networking session for women artists and organisations before the Sistaz Open Mic.

International Women’s Day around the world
The 2013 Theme for celebrations around the world is “The Gender Agenda: Gaining Momentum. Each year International Women’s Day is celebrated on March 8 around the world, by individuals and organisations, governments, charities, educational institutions, women’s groups, corporations and the media.

Thousands of events occur not just on this day but throughout March to mark the economic, political and social achievements of women each year, and to draw attention to global and local gender issues.

Over the time and distance, the equal rights of women have progressed. In Zimbabwe, there is much to be celebrated, and the Sistaz Open Mic this Saturday will honour some of the women in the arts in Zimbabwe.