Recently, the Harare chapter of Songs From A Room (Sofar), which is a global community of artists and curators, partnered with Pezzecul!ar, a sustainable clothing brand founded in Haiti (2016) by Valentina Sardella, to showcase local music talent in the same space with an eco-friendly fashion show.
The brand was re-launched in a picturesque garden setting on May 25 during Sofar Sounds Harare’s 12th edition.
A diverse crowd, including the Switzerland Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi, Stephane Rey, turned up at a private residence in Borrowdale to witness an extraordinary event featuring a talented surprise artist line up. Songbirds Dudu Manhenga, Mary Anibal, and country-folk-rock singer and songwriter Zowa Kurirai delivered an unforgettable experience that will linger in the memories of intimate music lovers for a long time.
According to the organisers, the idea was to use music to highlight the nutritional and environmental benefits of sustainable living, through clothing and food. Guests were treated to a vegan experience courtesy of award-winning chef, Chef Cola who was recently in Botswana as a speaker at the Forbes 30 Under 30 Summit.
“We had a lifetime experience and we were thrilled to unveil a long-awaited moment in collaboration with Pezzecul!ar to showcase the ecological aspect of fashion through their latest clothing line that was launched during the show,” curator Khumbulani Muleya said.
First to hit the stage was Zowa, a determined and passionate guitarist also known as ‘The Man of The Mountain’ returning to Sofar for the second time after his debut at the third edition hosted on a rooftop by First Floor Gallery Harare last year.
He began with a solo performance, playing a song titled Anashe. The storyteller and lyrical fundamentalist was later joined on stage by Tawanda Greyy on second guitar and harmonica, Wright Martin on bass as well as Sofar alumnus Cinginkosi on vocals and Max Aronow, whose sliding guitar added a smooth, gliding and hauntingly expressive tone on their performance.
Following the first set, the concert, expertly hosted by MC Michar Mushiko, transitioned into a fashion show, complete with a catwalk. Models from a diverse range of multi-cultural backgrounds and nationalities strutted down the runway, showcasing innovative designs made from second-hand clothes.
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The outfits predominantly made from denim featured earthy tones and dashes of white.
Sardella said that Pezzecul!ar emerged from a deep-seated concern for the overwhelming clothing waste plaguing countries worldwide. Witnessing this crisis first-hand, she was driven to take action. Beyond its role as a fashion brand, it serves as a collection point for second-hand clothing, promoting the reuse and repurposing of garments to minimize environmental impact.
Next up was Afro-fusion sensation, Mary Anibal, who is gearing to release her debut album, Maria Wenyu, on June 8 at Alliance Francaise de Harare. The audience was thrilled to see her among the surprise artists. Accompanied by multi instrumentalist Tichaona Muchemwa on guitar, Mary showcased her exceptional vocal and Mbira playing prowess.
Recently appointed an EU #Green and #Gender Ambassador for the Global Gateway campaign, Mary is not only a gifted musician but also a music educator and social commentator, using her music to address critical societal issues such as human trafficking, mental health, gender-based violence, child marriage, child labour and more. She captured the audience to the last note as she treated them to sneak peeks from her upcoming album that features the tracks Gogoride, Nditarirei and Bhonzo Muderere.
Closing off the concert was the dynamic singer and songwriter, Dudu Manhenga who took the audience through an afro-jazz adventure with her beautiful vocals accompanied by the skilled Blessing Muparutsa on drums and pianist and composer Nick Nare on keyboards.
Dressed in a beautiful outfit designed by Pezzecul!ar, Manhenga delivered a brilliant set that had the songs Oxam, Summertime, Lakutshon’ ilanga and the crowd-pleasing Mvura. Currently in the studio working on a new album after a twelve-year hiatus, Manhenga is set to release her first single in June. A seasoned performer, she has been an active feature at jazz festivals, including the Stanbic Bank Jacaranda Music Festival and other online appearances. “It was good to connect with an intimate audience that had come specifically for the music,” she told Standard Style.
Shows that took place on the same day in other active Sofar cities across the world include:
Hyderabad (India), The Hague and Leiden (Netherlands), Udine (Italy), as well as in Paris, Bergen, Lyon, Toulouse which are all in France.
