Sam Phiri
16 April 2011
Renowned Zimbabwean playwright and director Tsungai Garise was on Thursday night at Melsim Lodge but not for what he is known for, plays.
This time around he was trying out something new – Music. Having recorded a performance profile this year, much to the delight of Lusaka-based fans, the Zimbabwean and his youthful Dinaledi Expression Group seem to have grown in confidence.
Not long ago, Tsungai reviled plans of taking his hilarious team to make a debut appearance on the Copperbelt stage, arguably another home of theater arts.
Based on such a record, Tsungai and his team believe they would stop at nothing where delivery of entertainment is concerned.
Those who might have given him that salute and respect as a successful playwright and director, definitely had the right to be curious enough to see what this drama inclined personality would offer musically.
As expected, his most faithful member Luse Kaibele was the one taking centre stage in the Afro Latin light live music show.
Luse was sharing a stage with Oliver, a teacher at Lusaka International Community School (LICS).
Interestingly though, the centre of attraction was the 12- year-old guitarist, Nkosilathi Farai Dube who dazzled the audience with his skills as he strummed an electric guitar to do a popular Swahili track Malaika Nakupenda.
At some point the audience had to call back the young guitar genius who is Oliver’s a student to replay the song.
As for Luse Kaibele, who in her introductory remarks told the audience that she was a shy person, made the audience laugh knowing what an actress she is.
Would a good actress in her standing be shy? That’s what the audience seemed to have laughed about. Well she was not close to any form of disappointment because after she had executed her duty, she was recalled to do two more songs.
Never satisfied of good things, the audience did not stop calling for more, especially one fan only identified as Jackson.
This forced Tsungai to call upon Zambia’s renowned artiste Matthew Tembo who was in the audience to at least put an ‘icing on the cake’.
Tsungai’s new music initiative seemed to have pulled yet another surprise and won accolades. One would only wish that he does not completely deviate from what he is best known for – Play writing and directing.
AllAfrica – All the Time