On Friday 18 April, afrojazz singer Dudu Manhenga delivers a delightful Good Friday and Independence Day show at Alliance Francaise on H. Chitepo Avenue, in a duo with highly respected jazz pianist Nick Nare, entitled “Dudu Exhales” – after a breathless few months in the whirlwind of Life.
Dudu Exhales
FRIDAY 18 APRIL, 7pm
Old Mutual Theatre, Alliance Francaise, 328 Herbert Chitepo Ave, Harare
The intimate theatre brings Dudu up close to her fans in a unique set of world-class jazz backed only by the magic keyboard work of Nick Nare, which will satisfy even the very keenest music-lovers as the raw, natural music gifts of the two are brought sharply into focus, without the intricate trappings of a full backing band. It’s the true test of a singer or musician, exposing the very core of their creativity and music expression.
Dudu and Nick also head a powerful music team at the Jubilee Christian Centre in Harare, and no doubt the message of Easter will run strong, with songs from Dudu’s last workshop album, ‘For You’.
Singing professionally since her teenage years, Dudu Manhenga is now a mother of four and highly respected in her field, with 5 albums already under her belt since her debut ‘Out of the Blu’ with Color Bu in 2003. Since then she has toured widely at home and abroad, in the southern African region and Europe most recently touching down in West Africa.
In 2013 the highly entertaining music production ‘3 Generations’ featuring Dudu Manhenga, Clare Nyakujara and Zanele Manhenga was launched at Book Café in September, performed several times at Book Café and around the capital; at Intwasa Arts Festival koBulawayo, the October World Music Festival and the ‘16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence’ campaign. The production was a result of good mentoring of the young women artists by Dudu Manhenga who, having already carved a successful musical career for herself, supports other women through the FLAME gender project by Harare Arts organisation Pamberi Trust, of which she is currently a Trustee.
In 2014, Dudu has been embraced in heart of West Africa, as a guest Queen mother Nanaheema Adjoa Awindoor, in Accra, Ghana, where she interacted with young Ghanaian women, and performed at several occasions and concert venues, with a Valentine’s Day performance at the Royal Cassamora Gardens
The Friday 18 April performance of Dudu and Nick at Alliance Francaise is a wonderful celebration of Zimbabwe and its rich and diverse music culture, by two of Zimbabwe’s most highly-respected afro-jazz artists with a fantastic musical treat for the Easter weekend.