NORTON – At least 2 000 fans attended the third edition of the annual SPAR Solo Fest Pakare Paye here last week attracting Zimbabwe’s Who-Is-Who of the performing arts and rising instrumentalists.

Left: Blur of Movement- Mathias Julius performs at the Solo Fest.

Musician Alick Macheso came solo and strummed away on his trademark extra basso guitar so did Tuku and Sulumani Chimbetu, Victor Kunonga, Steve Makoni and The King of Marabi – Kireni Zulu.

Musician-cum-comedian Freddy Manjalima aka Kapfupi did the one-man standup comedy. Albert Nyathi and Chirikure Chirikure, extraordinary poets, covered poetry and Sabastian Magadha played the congas and keyboard plus vocals. Philip Tsikirayi played mbira and Wakile the banjo.

On dance was ex-Tumbuka’s Mathius Julius. Sista Kessia did vocals and dance while Selmar Mtukudzi opened the festival singing the national anthem with the backing of a guitar and mbira. Vimbai Zimuto played the mbira, Jackie Nyamutumbu marimba, Martha Badza percussion and dance and Clare Nyakujara the guitar and vocals.

The festival has grown modestly from the first edition when it featured just five artists and without a single female artist in the lineup to this year’s show when we had 30 artists including six divas.

From our own Pakare Paye Arts Centre programme were artists Munya Mataruse, Watson Chidzomba Jr, Poda Muriwa and Simba Mutanga playing an assortment of instruments.

Several guests representing the cross-section of the arts and culture attended including sports personalities and lawmakers. The festival patron and world acclaimed sculptor Dominic Benhura was guest of honour.

A luncheon for artists, sponsors and arts stakeholders was held on the day of the festival that received kind support from SPAR, NewsDay, Chipaz Promotion, Harare Jazz Festival and Tuku Music.

The solo fest is Tuku’s brainchild and seeks to build confidence amongst individual artists that they can perform by themselves and still entertain and earn a living playing solo.

Below we publish some of the pictures from the luncheon and festival. – tukumusik.com

^ Thembi Sachikonye (right) and Simba Manhango from media sponsors NewsDay at the luncheon.		^ National Arts Council Director Elvas Mari and Artist Dominic Benhura pictured at the luncheon.
^ Selmor Mtukudzi sings the National Anthem.		^ Minister Nelson Chamisa enjoys the show.
^ One of the young Pakare Paye artists shows his marimba skills.		^ Jackie Nyamutumbu at the marimbas.
^ Vimbai Zimuto.		^ Munya Mataruse.

^ Alick Macheso.		^ Albert Nyathi.
^ Martha Badza in action.		^ Chirikure Chirikure.
^ Oliver Mtukudzi.		^ Philip Tsikirayi a.k.a 'Soko'

^ Kapfupi.		^ Steve Makoni.