Shoppers and passers-by were treated to a juicy free lunch of hip-hop and Afro-pop music at the 2nd edition of the Kumbekumbe Street Café which was held at Zengeza 2 shopping centre in Chitungwiza over the weekend.
Effective use of social media and effective flyer distribution saw the guests balloon to 300 where little known artistes like Rhone Asibu Andson, Millz Million, Tendai aka Striker Makumbe, Rosemary Matikwa and Patrick Mashinge put up brilliant performances.
Ntandoyami Tanatsiwa Chikore digital and communications officer at Kumbekumbe Trust said the Street Café was a platform which intended to uplift the youth through performance and visual arts disciplines like dance, music, theatre, drawing and painting.
Chikore said Kumbekumbe Street Café would be a regular activity that would bring the youth together through the arts to share their common values about education and career while they have fun.
“This Street Café has helped us to bring together people through a creative process which involves usage of the arts,” Chikore said.
Junior mayor Denzel Whata an Advanced Level student at Seke 1 High School who was in the company of junior councillors said:
“We see this as an opportunity for young people to showcase their talents. Chitungwiza has lots of untapped talent and occasions like this help in identifying hidden creatives. We really appreciate youth peer to peer drive on empowerment through presenting locally and globally. This is a good move in pursuit of Vision 2030.”
Lovemore Chiwawa marketing and communications officer for the Society of Musical and Cultural Arts, an organisation that promotes artists and empowers them to be entrepreneurs, said the arts were the most rewarding form of entrepreneurship.
“We nurture their talents and engage them while they prepare for their careers. We also want to remove members of society from being vulnerable to what can be avoided and cured like engaging in early marriages, substance abuse and absence of knowledge on career guidance and correct training,” Chiwawa said.
Afro-pop singer Millz Million real name Miledus Marufu wowed the audience with the songs Mhiko, Jonah, Maria and Proof. Marufu, who was performing in Chitungwiza for the first time, told NewsDay Life & Style that she will be pleased to see a situation whereby Kumbekumbe Trust realises its full potential in empowering the youth through the arts.