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Ruth Butaumocho Entertainment Editor
MOTSWANA dancer and musician Naledi Kaisara aka Slizer will collaborate with a number of Zimbabwean musicians on her upcoming album to be released before the end of the year. Speaking on a number of issues soon after her arrival in Harare ahead of her scheduled gigs starting this weekend, Slizer said she has since started engaging some of the artistes, to work on the modalities on how they will work together on her project.
While she could not give a conclusive number of the artistes whom she will rope in the project, Slizer said she was keen on working with superstar Oliver Mtukudzi, sungura king Alick Macheso, Peter Moyo and several gospel artistes among them Fungisai Zvakavapano-Mashavave.
“ I am yet to meet Mtukudzi to discuss this though. I would love to work with as many artistes as possible, but it will not be possible because of several constraints.
“I will not be able to come here as many times as I would want to because I also have commitments back home.
“But I love all the Zimbabwean artistes. I do look up to them for inspiration and it has been great sharing the stage with some of them in the last three years or so, that I have been coming here,” she said.
She added that her decision to engage the local artistes was aimed at exporting Zimbabwean music to Botswana, while at the same time creating strong synergies between artistes from the two countries.
“My fans back home have on many occasions asked me if I will collaborate with Zim artistes, since I am always here staging live shows.
“I never thought about until recently. But I am happy that I will be able to do something, this time,” she said.
The dancer, who is nursing a five-month-old baby, will be in the country for some weeks while hold live shows throughout the country begining with the Tonai Moyo Memorial Gig on Sunday in the Harare Gardens.
Other musicians that are expected to take part in the commemorative bash include South African musician Freddie Gwala, Macheso, Suluman Chimbetu, Jah Prayzah, Beverley Sibanda and the “Young Igwe”, Peter.
The show has all the ingredients of a thriller as most of the musicians billed to perform are seasoned entertainers.
However, the real contest will be between dance sensation Bev and her Tswana counterpart Slizer. What makes the battle more interesting is that the two dancers-cum-musicians share the same producer, Tawanda Benson.
Bev has not made it a secret that she was motivated by Slizer to take up music seriously.
Her transformation from a dancer to a fully-fledged musician will be under spotlight on the day as this would be the first time she would be performing as a singer to before a large crowd. Bev, who is under the tutelage of veteran Gwala, will probably want to show the world that indeed her “lessons” have not been a waste of time.
Slizer’s capabilities are well documented here after having performed several times in the country.
In fact, she has probably made Zimbabwe her second home, penning songs about the country. Slizer will be on the familiar territory when she takes to the stage this Sunday.
However, it will not be a stroll in the park for the fairere sex as they have to compete with some of the seasoned artistes like Gwala, Macheso and Jah Prayzah.
While Gwala has seen his fortune waning over the years, he remains one of the most experienced artistes around.
Judging from a show that he recently held at Jongwe Corner, the South African singer still has what it takes to entertain the crowd.
On the other hand, it remains to be seen if Macheso will sample songs from his yet to be released album “Zvazvinhu”.
Online Reporter