Sofar Sounds Harare kicked off its 2024 events calendar with a return to the National Gallery of Zimbabwe (NGZ) in Harare, just in time to celebrate its first anniversary.

The Harare chapter of Sofar — short for Songs from a Room — which debuted two years ago, is part of a global community of music curators and artists putting together intimate live music in unique spaces such as galleries, restaurants, rooftops, private residencies and such other non-traditional venues. Its partners include AMH’s subsidiary, Heart & Soul Broadcasting Services, and ETWO, a sound system and stage lighting service provider.

Since its debut, the music brand has staged nine concerts with over 60 local artists gracing the platform. It has led both local and foreign music lovers on musical explorations around different locations across the city and it is emerging as a platform that has the potential to contribute towards the promotion of domestic tourism.

Sofar Harare, which is well-known for attracting the attention of audiences from different backgrounds, drew in yet another throng of music enthusiasts, who poured into the historic art space to watch four artists performing live in an intimate setting.

The organisers of the unique concerts indicated a desire to support the National Tourism Recovery and Growth Strategy by aligning the platform to the travel industry.

Sofar curator, Khumbulani Muleya, said: “Sofar Sounds Harare has the potential to be a player in the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) due to its global presence in over 450 cities across the world.”

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The well-attended concert opened with a performance by Nonny Muhoni supported by keyboardist Sax Guru and guitarist Munyaradzi Nhete. The songstress, who is also a music educator, is a soulful, spiritual jazz singer. She mesmerised the audience with her silky smooth vocals as she effortlessly blended elements of soul, blues and jazz chord progressions.

She performed her original songs Journey to Happiness and Mari Yangu, as well as versions of English singer Adele’s Someone Like You and Canadian singer Tamia’s 1990s hit song So into You.

“Sofar is something that Zimbabwean artists, particularly unknowns like myself, require. It provides a place to express ourselves among like-minded people. l thoroughly enjoyed myself,” Muhoni said after the event.

She has previously worked with Prudence Katomeni Mbofana, Hope Masike, Blessing Chimanga and Zolani Mahola. To date, she works as a lead vocalist with Sofar alumni Filbert Marova and Jason “Jaybone” Wyngard of MO VIP Entertainment.

Bulawayo rapper Meet Luminous delivered a smooth act with his IsiNdebele hip-hop lyrics that were complemented by backtracks from some of his early hits such as Ungay’vusa (2021) and Siyathesha (2023).

Vocalist and saxophonist Tina Watyoka was also part of the concert and serenaded the audience with her amazing vocal range and saxophone playing skills. She performed Regai Ndiende as well as breath-taking renditions of BP Yangu Yakwira (originally done by Prudence Katomeni Mbofana and Jazz Invitation) as well as George Michael’s 1984 release Careless Whisper.

For the day’s concluding act, an interdisciplinary artist and creative entrepreneur AneUnhu Gwatidzo, introduced a high-octane performance that featured songs such as Overcome and Pindirai.

Beyond music, AneUnhu works across different media, including theatre and film. NGZ, whose mission is to promote talent, develop creativity, continuous dialogue and inspiration towards a broader appreciation of the visual arts of Zimbabwe, first hosted a Sofar show on September 23 last year.

“I would like to congratulate Sofar Sounds Harare on their first year of concerts and commend them for bringing this intimate, relaxed platform to life. We look forward to future editions; and thank all the artists who bring this event to life,” the associate curator of the gallery, Zvikomborero Mandangu, said.

The music performances were juxtaposed with visual art paintings hanging on the gallery walls, much to the delight of guests who experienced two powerful art mediums complementing each other in the same space. The diversity of the line-up of artists equally matched the multicultural audience that was in attendance. — Staff Writer.