Online Reporter
Mbulelo Mpofu, Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
THE Zimbabwe Jazz Community Trust (ZJCT) and Alliance Françaises in Zimbabwe surely worked their socks off to ensure an eventful Zimbabwe Jazz Festival 2025 over the weekend.
On Friday at Alliance Française de Bulawayo, the festival’s eighth edition in the capital and fourth in Bulawayo, kicked off with the right tone as The Frank Salis Experience, a dynamic cross-continental ensemble led by Swiss composer Frank Salis, took to the stage.
It was a special moment for Bulawayo’s own ‘afrojazz adventure’ Dudu Manhenga, who delivered a world-class performance, joined by Nobuntu’s lead vocalist and her sister, Zanele Manhenga, to add to the ambience.
Having left Bulawayo at a tender age for greener pastures in Harare, Manhenga said she was excited to be back.
“It’s great to be back where it all started. I remember back in the day, I used to be afraid to compose and sing in the English language as I feared pronouncing words with the double Ts like ‘cattle’, ‘bottle’, but I eased into it, and now I’m comfortable. That’s how we pronounce these words in Bulawayo,” she joked.
Award-winning saxophonist Vee Mukarati, a nascent star in Europe’s jazz circles, showed why he is one to watch with a polished performance, which also included Othnell” Mangoma” Moyo.
The Tich Makalisa Band, uniting the acclaimed pianist with talents from Zimbabwe and South Africa, made sure that the night of jazzy sounds was as entertaining.
For Amanda Tiffin, performing in Bulawayo after a long time was also special.
This year’s festival coincided with the ground-breaking, “Frank Salis Experience – The Zambezi Sessions,” an ambitious residency and tour project orchestrated by Salis.
Five musicians from Zimbabwe, Zambia, Switzerland, Italy, and the US embarked on a two-week creative journey across Southern Africa, starting in Lusaka (5 September), followed by Mutare (7 September), and Victoria Falls (10 September).
The tour culminated at the Zimbabwe Jazz Festival, with Salis’s ensemble headlining both the Bulawayo and Harare concerts on Friday and Saturday, respectively.
The deep-rooted collaboration between ZJCT and Alliance Française remains central to the festival’s success.
Established in 2016, ZJCT is steered by a committee of artists and jazz lovers dedicated to reviving and preserving Zimbabwean jazz culture. Its Board of Trustees includes Chairperson Robert Basvi, Marova, Kumbula Chiweza, Tinashe Mukarati, and Blessing Chaumba.
Last year’s “Sizzling Rhythms” festival featured UK-based Zimbabwean artist Paul Lunga and Swiss singer NNAVY, alongside local acts across both cities.
The 2025 edition elevated this legacy, transforming Zimbabwe into a nexus of jazz innovation and cross-cultural harmony. —@MbuleloMpofu
