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YESTERYEAR world renowned music legend, August Musarurwa, has been honoured.
This follows the National Art Gallery of Zimbabwe’s move to add to its national collection a refreshing artwork that is also a film of the world famous Skokiaan song.
Musarurwa, who touched the hearts of many back in the day, composed the Skokiaan song, attracting the attention of Louis Armstrong in 1954.
As has become the norm, the NGZ normally collects sculptures, mixed media pieces and other installations, which makes this new art collection by Musarurwa important.
According to its synopsis, Welcome Visitors! is based on the story of a Skokiaan song composed in 1947.
“The tune became an international hit and it was famously covered by Louis Armstrong in 1954.
“Mixing archival material from Armstrong’s tour of Southern Africa in 1960 with anonymous home movie footage of travel, the film associates the migration of the new melody with real and imagined imagery connecting Southern Africa and the American South.
“The particular mix of words and imagery speaks to larger questions of origin and the nature of syncretism.
“The piece is structured by three versions of Skokiaan , a contemporary jazz cover by South African Kevin Davidson, which opens and closes the film; Musarurwa’s original recording, in which he plays the saxophone; Louis Armstrong’s instrumental and vocal cover named Happy Africa,” reads part of the synopsis.
“Further details indicate that the film, made in 2017, is a single channel digital video, of 10 minutes 17 seconds, which can be shown either on projector or television screen.
“The film was commissioned in 2017 as part of an installation for prospect, the New Orleans triennial titled The Lotus in Spite of the Swamp.
“It also formed a key part of Penny’s solo exhibition Moving Stories and Travelling Rhythms: Penny Siopis and The Many Journeys of Skokiaan at the National Art of Zimbabwe in 2019.”
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter