Mbira punk band to perform in Byo

Chikwata 263 is a mbira punk band that sings in Shona, IsiNdebele and English. The band comprises of four members who include lead rhythm guitarist Thomas Brickwell, lead mbira player Hector Mugari, Blessing Chimanga, who is on the drums, and Raymond Mupfumira who is a bass guitarist.
In an interview, Brickwell said the band will be performing in Bulawayo for the first time and is looking forward to introducing its mbira-punk-rock fusion to Bulawayo.
“We are set to perform in Bulawayo for the first time and it is such an honour to be sharing the stage with Norwegian Punk artiste Asmund Pryst,” he said.
Formed last year at the Book Café in Harare, the band started off with the intention of creating a musical fusion that has not yet been explored before. The band has also played at a number of festivals like Chimanimani Arts Festival.
Brickwell also said the band has played alongside Zimbabwe’s finest among them Andy Brown, Sulumani Chimbetu and Chiwoniso Maraire.
Asked on how people responded to their kind of genre alongside the usual Kata’s and Wandirasa by Maraire, Brickwell said people were at first puzzled by this kind of music they had not yet heard of but after a gig it was surprising how they still asked for more.
“At first our kind of music was really hard to explain as in musically as the concept was one that had not been yet introduced in the country before.
“Having to share and perform with names such as Sulu was the toughest because of the difference in genres and this explains why people would look puzzled at the mere sight of us, but after every gig, people would still ask for more,” he said.
The band has also collaborated with Alexio Kawara, John Pfumojena and sensational Victoria Falls’ Mokoomba.
Brickwell also said the band had always wanted to perform in Bulawayo, but because there were no Bulawayo-based promoters willing to make it happen, the band could not pull through.
“The band has been trying to perform in Bulawayo for the past six months, but because there were no promoters willing to promote us as a newly formed band, we could not make it to Bulawayo,” he said
Now that the band is finally coming to Bulawayo, the band is promising a loud and wild performance.
“Now that we will be playing in Bulawayo, guests should expect something loud and a bit wild,” the guitarist said.
Asked if the band has anything special to play for this month of love, Brickwell said guests should look forward to their track My Heart Skipped a Beat.