Sulu, Sister Jean to share stage

ARTISTES continue to forge "alliances" on stage and such combinations are proving to be healthy for them as they continue to attract huge crowds to their shows. Gone is the trend whereby artistes would have single bookings and compete as individual artistes trying to lure fans to their shows.

That trend created unhealthy competition, friction and caused rifts among musicians who thought sharing the stage with someone else was not good for them. But such days are now history and artistes have matured and realised that there is strength in unity and one way of going forward is through holding combined shows.

Of late, Suluman Chimbetu, Sister Jean and Josphat Somanje have been holding combined shows, giving their fans a mix of music genres hence varied entertainment. The professional "romance" between Sulu and Jean Masters has been largely at Jazz 105 in Harare and Mushandirapamwe Hotel in Highfield, Harare, where their combined act has become something to look forward to.

With Josphat and Sulu, it has been the same especially at those venues where people who love sungura music frequent. The journey continues for the trio this weekend when Mwana Wedangwe, as Sulu is called in music circles, "engages" Sister Jean for an outing at Plaza De Castilla in Greencroft tonight. The duo is not new at the joint and although revellers at that venue know how these artistes perform, there however have new things to expect as Sulu and Sister Jean always make an effort to spice up their act.

Sulu has featured on Sister's Jean's album "Africa" and the two artistes are expected to collaborate on stage to play some duets. Mwana Wedangwe also has a number of hit songs to his name and who doesn't know gems like "Kwedu", "Temperature" and "Dzamutsana" among others? From Greencroft, Sulu will tomorrow head to Mushandirapamwe Hotel in Highfield, a venue that his late father Simon Chimbetu also frequented during his time.

The Dendera musician will this time have Josphat Somanje in tow. Josphat is also a polished artiste in his own right with a string of hits to his name like "This Time (Haulume)", "Sochisi", "Maggie Mukaranga" and "Gorikingo" among others. (Herald)