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Maria Chiguvari
TOP musical ensemble, Mokoomba, are set to share the stage with one of the greatest African artists of all-time, the legendary Salif Keita, rocking a crowd of about 40 000.
Mokoomba will take part in the Festival sur le Niger (Segou Art), one of Africa’s largest festivals, which is held in Segou, Mali, whose main stage capacity is 40000 people.
The 21st edition of the festival will feature music legends from across Africa, including Salif Keita, Sekouba Bambino,and Amadou et Mariam.
Mokoomba will be the second group from Zimbabwe to perform at the festival.
The late Oliver Mtukudzi was the first.
In an interview with H-Metro, Mokoomba spokesperson, Marcus Gora, said the band will enter their annual rehearsal camp for two weeks, starting on Monday, to work on a new album and their live performances.
“We will begin our annual rehearsal camp on January 20 for two weeks to develop new material for an upcoming album and to improve our live shows.
“Our performances have two formats: the first is a full-band live show featuring electronic instruments, which is ideal for large events and festivals.
“The second format is semi-acoustic, emphasising traditional sounds, making it suitable for indoor theatres and smaller venues.
“We are honoured to be among the headliners at the Festival sur le Niger (Segou Art) in Segou, Mali. This festival is one of the largest in Africa, with a main stage that accommodates 40000 people.
“This year, we will share the stage with legendary artists like Salif Keita and Amadou et Mariam, both of whom have significantly influenced us as musicians.
“It will be a dream come true to perform alongside them in their home country,” he said.
Despite a busy schedule filled with regional and international gigs, the band remains committed to their local fans and have planned several concerts in Zimbabwe this year.
“While we perform extensively on other continents, we take pride in the impact our music is making across Africa and here at home.
“We aim to host a good number of local concerts this year and look forward to touring Africa and Europe in the middle of the year.
“Towards the end of the year, we anticipate participating in the vibrant festival season that begins in September.
“One of the events we are particularly excited about is the second edition of the Oliver Mtukudzi International Festival of the Arts, which was a success last year.
“The late Oliver Mtukudzi was the only Zimbabwean artist to headline the Festival sur le Niger in Mali, and we are proud to follow in his giant footsteps,” he added.
Online Reporter