.MASEKELA OLIVA
By JOWIT SALUSEKI
THE long-awaited music festival featuring jazz legend Hugh Ramopolo Masekela supported by Oliver Mtukudzi and Zonke Dikana finally gets set tomorrow and Sunday at Misty Restaurant at Lusaka’s Levy Mall.
Miriam Mwale, head of Marketing at Stanbic Bank, who are the organisers of the event, tells DStv Entertainment that sales for the first ever international festival of its kind has more than 60 per cent of ticket sold within a month.
“The ticket sales package offered was for three categories … the ordinary and tickets for two, comes with reserved parking and security for vehicles, raised sitting platform, food court and private cash bar. The VIP Ticket is a hospitality festival package inclusive of beverages, welcome cocktail, exclusive access with red carpet and close sitting area, while the VVIP will have all the packages of VIP and close stage area”, says Mwale.
Award winning Masekela is a South African trumpeter, Flugelhornist, composer and singer. Born on April 4, 1939 in Kwa-Guqa township, Witbank, South Africa, he began singing and playing piano as a child.
At age 14, after seeing the film Young Man with Horn modelled after American Jazzy cornetist- Bix Berderbeckle, Masekela took up playing the trumpet.
He attended Manhattan school of Music in New York, USA, where he studied classical trumpet from 1960 to 1964. Masekela had hits in the United States with pop Jazz tunes up, Up and Away (1967) and the number one smash Grazing in the Grass (1968), which won him a Grammy award. The album sold four million copies.
In 1987, he had a hit single bring him back home, which became an anthem for the movement to free Nelson Mandela’s world tour during his 1992 prison release.
With more than 40 solo albums to his name, he recently started his own label: House of Masekela, which has recently released his latest album, Playing at Work.
He also collaborated in the musical development of the Broadway play Sarafina. Masekela who in 2010 was honoured by President Jacob Zuma has worked with many legends including Harry Belafonte, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davies and the late Miriam Makeba.
In 2002 the veteran artist won the International BBC Radio Jazz award, while in 2005 he bagged the Channel O music video lifetime Achievement award.
He has also provided interpretations of songs composed by Jorge Ben, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Dorothy Masuka and Fela Kuti.
Zimbabwe’s Oliver Mtukudzi, 62, started his music career in 1977 when he joined the Wagon Wheels, a band which also featured Thomas Mapfumo.
With his husky voice, Mtukudzi has become the most recognised voice from Zimbabwe on the international scene and he has earned a devoted following across Africa and beyond.
The multi-award winning musician also incorporates elements of different musical traditions, giving his music a distinctive style, known to his fans as Tuku music.
He has produced more than 30 albums, with hits such as Neria, Pindirai and Ninipa becoming anthems among his fans.
Mtukudzi has had a number of tours around the world in countries such as United Kingdom, USA and Canada to perform for large audiences.
Zonke Dikana, a South African afro soul award winner, is credited for her album Life, Love and Music.
The 29-year-old has breathed life into many songs over the years on albums by the likes of Mafikizolo, the late T.K, Thebe and house music guru Franck Roger.
Something that sets her apart from other artists is that her style of music has been predominantly laid back, on a soulful live vibe, with the feel of the well known acid jazz innovators.
Zonke lists the late South African singer Brenda Fassie among her repertoire of influence.
Local artiste expected to share alongside the icons include Maureen Lupo Lilanda, Uncle Rex and band, Pompi and Mumba Yachi.
