Harare’s popular Book Café reopened with a bang at a new venue on Friday night with a huge multi-cultural crowd and high-powered performances from some of Zimbabwe’s best acts.
Samora Machel was a busy avenue as fans weaved their way to the popular joint. Some in daring high heels, some in comfy shoes and some in Afrocentric styles synonymous with the former Book Café crowd besieged the place.
A number of chairs in the new spacious venue were soon filled and patrons milled around the venue seeping and dancing the night away. Over five local groups that livened up the former Book Café venue at Fife Avenue with their performances.
By far the best performance came from mbira legends Mawungira Enharira. The mbira outfit strummed the traditional instrument intertwining it with rich drones producing an excellent sound. The group had become synonymous with Book Café and to many it was an affirmation that the joint was indeed back.
Popular reggae giants Transit Crew performed a number of amazing songs with perfect instrument handling sending the crowd into a frenzy. Josh Meck was not to be outdone as he performed to perfection revealing his vast international exposure. Josh is a well-travelled artist who has been touring and performing all over the world for six years.
In 2010, Meck did a collaboration with USA-based jazz saxophone player Max Wild at the prestigious Africa festival Held in Wurzburg Germany and went on to do a collaboration tour of Germany, Estonia, United Kingdom, Netherlands and Czech Republic with Max Wild in 2011.
Upcoming superstar Alexio Kawara lived up to his billing giving a top-class performance. Zimbabwe’s evergreen prince of peace, Victor Kunonga gave a good show.
The festive mood at Book Café was however, dampened by the news of the death of popular Andy Brown. Brown died at Parirenyatwa Hospital on Friday afternoon. Artists and patrons observed a minute of silence for the Daisy hit maker.
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