By Kenneth Matimaire – MUTARE –The mere mention of the Tonga tribe brings its marijuana smoking tradition to mind. Its extraordinary water pipes made from the bulb of the calabash fruit, which were used to smoke dagga attracted international attention. Many were amazed to note that Tonga women are traditionally allowed to smoke. During the colonial era, they were the only tribe permitted to legally continue their dagga smoking culture. However, little did many expected music to be imbedded in the rich history of one of Zimbabwe’s minority ethnic groups. The emergence of afro-fusion music band – Mokoomba will have... Continue Reading
By: WASH R&E Network-Liberia – The international organisation WaterAid has called on governments meeting in Cairo for Africa Water Week (13th to 19th May) to commit to bringing water and sanitation services to 100 million more Africans over the next two years. In sub-Saharan Africa, nearly 600 million people lack access to adequate sanitation, while 335 million people lack access to clean, safe water. Over three quarters of a million children in Africa die every year due to diarrhoeal diseases caused, in the vast majority of cases, by a lack of safe drinking water and adequate sanitation. Mr. Nelson Gomonda,... Continue Reading
Harare – United States based musical group Ruzivo concluded their visit in Zimbabwe on Wednesday by spending time with students from St. Giles Special School in Harare, where they donated $3,000 worth of marimba equipment. “We are so touched by the culture and the music and we are so happy to be doing this,” said Dana Moffett, a member of the musical group. “We have been doing a musical exchange for a number of years with our culture program, but this exchange started when Ruzivo fundraised and built the notes (for the marimbas) in the United States and brought them... Continue Reading
By Jeffrey Muvundusi – While nothing much can be written home about the gospel music fraternity in Bulawayo, newly formed apostolic choral group, Bhuku Romweya has sought to make a difference in the genre that is certainly sinking into oblivion in the city. Bubbling with confidence over their latest musical project, Ndigamuchirei, the “gents” only seven member group is confident that their advent into the fraternity is a calling from above that would usher a relatively new dimension in the local gospel music circles as they disseminate the crucial Word through their vocal prowess. “This is probably a first such musical... Continue Reading
One of Africa’s most inspirational women and 2009 CNN Global Hero Betty Makoni is another stellar name to lend her support to UK-based social enterprise iROCK for their first London fundraiser Tribes of Africa scheduled for Africa Day, 26 May. Betty Makoni A gender activist, founder and director of Girl Child Network Zimbabwe (GCN) and CEO of Girl Child Network World Wide, an organisation that champions the rights of the girl child in Zimbabwe and worldwide, Betty Makoni is no stranger to lending her support to younger women to help guide them on their journeys. A survivor of rape at... Continue Reading
