adminReckson Mandizvidza Entertainment Reporter
Auditions for participants in the UMOJA Zimbabwean chapter have been set for June 10 and 11. Artists selected during the two day session will then be part of the UMOJA International festival which is set for Harare later in the year.
UMOJA Zimbabwe music director Elisha Herema said the final auditions would take place at the Harare College of Music.
“The auditions will be held at the College of Music in Harare over the two days, Saturday and Sunday. There will not be any preliminaries this time around.
“This means those who are interested in participating in this year’s edition should make it for the two day selection process.
“We will select 15 individuals who will then represent the country when UMOJA International camp begins in July,” he said.
UMOJA International involves participants from the different countries presenting their national products before they stage a single performance.
Herema also said the camp will commence on July 30 at Pakare Pary Arts Center and advised would-be participants to prepare for a rigorous selection process.
“Those who would have made the grade to be part of the Zimbabwe ensemble will be in camp at Pakare Paye from the July 30 to August 10 with other individuals from participating countries where they will interact, participate, exchange notes and fine-tune their performances for the final showpiece which will be held in the capital on Saturday the August 9.
“Those who are willing to give it a shot however should come well prepared because only the best will be selected as there will be a very rigorous selection process.
“Those who will make it will have lots of exposure and the experience can actually catapult them further career wise,” he said.
UMOJA is a culture and music exchange programme where talented artists from countries Zimbabwe, Mozambique, South Africa and Norway meet on a yearly basis exchanging artistic ideas amongst themselves.
The programme which is meant to open dialogue among musical artists have participating nations rotating the hosting of the event and Zimbabwe having last hosted it in 2011 will be hosting this year’s event.
Online Reporter