• ZAHARA

By JOWIT SALUSEKI –

IT’S SHOW time again! And two of Africa’s renowned singers down south of the equator in songbird Zahara and Skeffa Chimoto are coming to Zambia.
The duo is expected to perform as part of the forthcoming Zambia Agricultural and commercial show on August 2, 2014 at Mulungushi Conference centre in Lusaka.
Bulewa Mkutukana better known, as Zahara who is a South African singer, guitarist, poet and song writer and  brand Ambassador for the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital is no a stranger in the country.
Her music show last year left an indelible mark on many of her followers in Zambia who are yearning to satiate some more.
Widely acclaimed for her loliwe song, Zahara started singing in her school’s choir when she was six years old and at the age of nine she was told to join the senior choir because of her charming voice.
In 2011, Zahara released her debut album, loliwe which proved to be a big success in her music career. The album went platinum in 13 days and went double platinum after just 17 days selling over 100,000 copies in her native country South Africa.
On May 1, 2012, during the 18th annual South African Music Awards, the 27-year-old Xhosa songstress swept the board bagging eight in total including best female artist and album of the year for her loliwe project.
The Loliwe hit song, which simply means ‘the train’ has come to take away the pain caused by a lot of buzz in South Africa and around the world in part because of its beautiful melody and the rich vocal quality.
Zahara has associated in act with Nigeria’s 2face Idibia, the Soweto Gospel Choir, DJ Sbu , LeRoy Belle and Ladysmith Black Mambazo , to list a few.
Meanwhile Skeffa’ The jamming machine’ Chimoto is a popular Malawian musician  and a member of the Real Sounds Band famed for his chinamuluma chakudya song.
Most people in Zambia know Skeffa for the duet with music wonder boy Dalisoul’s One day song in which he is featured.
The Malawian singer has of late been touring Southern African countries such as South Africa and Botswana to  promote his latest Chikondi album.
Recently, Zambia musician Bruce Simbwalange stage named B1 who was in Malawi to showcase his ear catching lyrics in Pillow, shared the stage with Skeffa as well as Malawi’s music king Lucius ‘soldier ‘Banda at a music  concert.
The gig was held at Motel Paradise as a way to celebrate Malawi’s 50 years of independence.
Zahara and Skeffa’s performances in Lusaka will be spiced up by local talent in the likes of Amayenge, Dalisoul and the Nyakaseya band, among others.