Hope Masike Makes London Debut

By Simplicious Chirinda

London, November 26, 2013 – Zimbabwean artist, Hope Masike, popularly known as the mbira princess in the arts circles, made her London debut performance this week.

Masike performed with a group of European artists from Norway, Sweden and Mozambique. The individual artists formed what is now known as Monosizwe which performed at the annual London Jazz Festival.

Masike left the partisan crowd made up of mainly Zimbabwean exiles and Londoners spell-bound and asking for more with her unique mbira artistry and vocal prowess.

Belting songs from her album entitled Mbira, Love and Chocolate she warmed up the crowd on a chill afternoon at the London Rich Mix.

She also sung songs from her famed album Hope with the song Ndiwe jerking up the fans onto the dance flow.

She told Radio VOP after her show that she was happy to be in London.

“I never thought I could be able to perform in London one day but I am quite happy to be making my debut,” said an ever-smiling Masike.

She said her London performance is part of her European tour which saw her staging shows in France and Norway.

A lot of fans also appreciated her music.

Bernard Chiketo from Wimbledon in London told Radio VOP, “It’s good to see young Zimbabweans like Hope making it in their chosen careers, we were getting accustomed to just Oliver Mtukudzi and Thomas Mapfumo but Hope shows that there is hope for young musicians as well. I have enjoyed her show.”

In parting, Masike said music is a business and a career which should be respected because young people can make a life out of it.

“It’s no longer a career for life’s hopeless people – marombe- It’s now a viable career choice and if there are parents that still stop their children from pursuing a career in music, it’s sad and all i can say is everyone and anyone can make it in life as long as they are serious about their chosen career paths,” she said.