Online Reporter
Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
THE growing reggae movement in Zimbabwe is increasingly finding new ways to reach audiences beyond the genre’s traditional following.
Reggae Roadblock are using live performances and collaborations to widen their appeal.
Launched in August last year, the monthly platform has brought together established and emerging reggae musicians at different venues, creating a space for live music, collaboration and community building.
The movement’s coordinator, Chido Musasiwa, said the decision to stage some of the shows in different settings was deliberate as it gives reggae musicians an opportunity to connect with audiences they may not ordinarily reach.
“It is very easy to keep performing to your regular clientele, but when you are partnering with the likes of the British Council and Cafe Momos, like we did in July, it exposes you to another audience that you are not usually performing to,” Musasiwa said.
The August edition will add fashion to the musical programme, with local designers working directly with the performing artists.
She said each participating designer will dress one of the musicians before showcasing a 10-garment collection, bringing together two creative industries that are rarely presented on the same stage.
Musasiwa said the collaboration with the British Council was an opportunity to place reggae in a different environment while exposing the genre to new audiences.
“We are super excited about working with the British Council because it is opening up the reggae movement to a different context and sphere than what we usually have,” she said.
The platform has 10 resident artists, each with their own bands and individual careers.
They come together under the Reggae Roadblock banner once a month, allowing their audiences to interact while contributing to a broader reggae community.
She said they have also been inviting musicians from outside the traditional reggae circuit to perform reggae sets, an approach that has brought different sounds and audiences into the movement.
For Musasiwa, the combination of music and fashion reflects the broader creative possibilities within the movement.
“If you love reggae music, if you like live music, and if you like fashion, and if you like the fusion, then this is definitely the place for you to be,” she said.
The August edition of Reggae Roadblock will be held on August 30 at the British Council Gardens in Harare.
