The debut edition of the Jacaranda Festival will be held at Hellenic Sports Club this Saturday headlined by Tuku, Mokoomba, Mi Casa and Yvone Chaka Chaka.

But there are other amazing acts also performing there and you need to know more about them.

Get paid to write app reviews

NORMAN MASAMBA

Norman Masamba aka SaMasamba is an accomplished guitarist, songwriter and singer. He began his career in 2007 playing guitar supporting well known musicians like Victor Kunonga and the late Chiwoniso Maraire. Norman has also contributed to projects involving Dr Oliver Mtukudzi, the late Bra Hugh Masekela, Steve Dyer, performing on stages such as HIFA (Zim), Miombo Magic (Zim), Standard Joy of Jazz (SA), Mamela Arts Festival (SA), Botswana Cultural Festival and BAAF (Norway) among others. In 2017, Norman Masamba launched his own career with his band Point Blank and released a very well received debut album titled Zvebasa. His music is injecting brand new life into the guitar driven sounds of the earlier generation, making it fresh, rhythmic and infused with a positive message.

JESA

Jesa is an exciting Afro-fusion six man band comprising founder Kudakwashe Kanyerere (Drummer), Leah Kasinamunda (Vocalist), Alfred Phiri (Mbira,vocalist),Tinotenda Zingapeta (Bassist) , Exodus Bande (Keyboardist) and Tichaona Muchemwa (Percussion). Jesa, formed in 2015, are alumni of the Music Crossroads Academy as well as winners of the Imagine Festival 2016 (the annual European international young band competition). Having announced themselves as a quality band with the presence to entertain any audience, Jesa is currently performing at many local venues and festivals such as Pakare Paye Arts Centre and Harare International Festival of Arts. Jesa is the Shona name for the African yellow weaver bird which sings in the sky, with their high energy beats and soaring vocals, sky is the limit for Jesa.

THE MOVEMENT

The Movement is an entertainment collective founded in 2013 by St. Emmo that provides the best DJs and Musicians who create memorable experiences for any event they feature. Their performances are always cutting edge with some “out of the box”, world class music productions and collaborations.

They are also a multi faceted, one stop enterprise which provides event management, promotion, sound, photography, security solutions to fulfill their mission to professionalize the entertainment sector nationwide.

BERITA KHUMALO

Berita Khumalo is a multi-award winning, gold selling, Afrosoul singer, songwriter and guitarist. Born and raised in Zimbabwe, Berita is a traveler, having lived briefly in New Zealand and now based in South Africa. Berita has collaborated with African music royalty, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Oliver Mtukudzi, and the late legend Hugh Masekela, South African house DJ icon Oskido, Coke Studio Season 2 and Black Motion. She was introduced to South Africa through a stunning debut ‘Thandolwethu’ in 2012 and her 3rd album topped the charts with the tracks ‘Ezizweni’ featuring Mobi Dixon and ‘Found you’ featuring Da Capo. Berita has won the coveted Metro FM music award for Best African Pop album (2013), Wawela Songwriter of the Year (2014). She has been touring on the continent with a recent East Africa tour that had 8 live performances and 20 media rounds in Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda plus plenty of dates in the region including the just ended Pakare Paye SoloFest and Arts Alive’s Jazz on the Lake.

MBEU

Mbeu is an excellent singer, songwriter and guitar player, a rising star nurtured at the Pakare Paye Arts Centre built by Dr. Oliver Mtukudzi. Mbeu and his band “the Mhodzi Tribe” are now a popular act in the country and soon they will be touring the world because their music and talent deserve to be heard and seen, if their stellar performance at this year’s HIFA festival is anything to go by. Mbeu’s new album titled Hatizvimirire is a big hit on the local market and his single Mavanga was on regular rotation on local and regional stations like Trace Africa.

EVICTED

“Afro-Rock Fusion”, fusing traditional Zimbabwean music with rock and funk, this much-loved local band offers a unique blend of traditional and western styles, backed by amazing passion and energy. “Evicted” are a prominent musical force, using and abusing music genres and building a reputation for rocking, euphoric live shows. KiThe current line-up consists of Derek Bailey on lead vocals and guitar, Theo Rhode on lead guitar, Dominic Benson on bass, and Justin Soutter on drums.

GEMMA GRIFFITHS

Gemma Griffiths is a highly talented and expressive acoustic soul singer and composer. Born in Cape town and raised in Zimbabwe, her musical identity is intricately woven from influences at home and abroad while her uniquely raw, lilting voice has endeared her to her growing number of fans. Gemma has performed at HIFA, Miombo Magic, Shoko Festival, Zimfest, Rocking the Daisies, Lake of Stars London and opened for Grammy award winner Joss Stone in Harare to mention a few highlights. Gemma’s collaboration on the track Headlights with Swiss DJ Askery was signed to Spinnin’ Records and quickly reached over 500,000 views on YouTube while her Shona/English interpretation of Zimbabwean dancehall star, Winky D’s hit song ‘Musarova Bigman has over 150,000 YouTube views. Her EP titled MY TOWN is out and it’s lit.!

BLESSING CHIMANGA

Blessing ‘Bled’ Chimanga is a 26 years old multi-talented instrumentalist, singer, director, arranger and teacher. His impressive music journey began in the Prince Edward School Jazz band where he majored in 3 instruments namely Drums, Marimba and Percussion. He joined the late Sam Mtukudzi’s band as a start to his professional career and has gone on to play with a number of local and international acts such as Hope Masike, Busi Ncube, Chikwata 263, Eric Wainaina(Kenya), Mike Del Ferro(Netherlands), Amanda Labanda (Italy), Ary Morais(Norway), Michael W. Smith (USA) and Sona Jobarteh(UK). He has performed with his band at festivals such as HIFA, Stubbetorpet Festival (Sweden), Umoja Festival(Mozambique), Barefeet Festival(Zambia), Global isai festival(India), Italian River Blues Festival, 3rd European Blues Challenge (Italy) and Iguazu En Concierto (Argentina). Blessing also coaches music students at various schools in Zimbabwe, touring with them internationally. In August 2013, he was crowned “The Best Marimba Coach in Africa” after winning 6 awards at the International Marimba and Steelpan Competition in South Africa. Blessing is a OneBeat USA alumni and his current album titled “DREAMS” is a treat.

MASA CAROLEEN

Masa is a fast rising world music artist who is now a prominent feature of Harare’s live music scene. Her music is an eclectic mix of urban and traditional genres powered by her incredible, warm vocals inspired by artists like Thandiswa Mazwai, Amy Winehouse and the late Aretha Franklin. Masa began her solo career as a part of the Book Cafe’s FLAME (Female Literary, Arts & Music Enterprise) project and over time has built up a talented supporting band with Pathisani Moyo (keyboard player), Zealman Munengu (Drums), Takudzwa Kaseke (Lead guitar) and Tinotenda Zingapeta (Bass Guitar). Together they have performed at various local venues and at festivals like HIFA, sharing the stage with acts like Takura and Mokoomba among others.