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| Entertainment |
| Wendy Harawa off to Europe |
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by
Edward Nyirenda, 14 May 2006
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08:22:42
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If you doubted the sensational singing style of Wendy Harawa, this could be the time to change your perception. The celebrated female ragga artist, whose music is crossing borders, seems to be heading towards the pinnacle of her solo career. A new opportunity has opened up, thanks to her association with Zambian musicians.
Wendy is heading for Munich in Germany and Vienna in Austria to participate in an African music festival—Afrika Tage.
The event will run for two weeks from May 18 to August 15.
The trip has been organised by her manager, Chim Moore, a Zambian-based in Germany, who is also Events Director for a Zambian outfit, Tiyende Pamodzi Global Entertainment. Last year, the same group took Wendy to perform in the United Kingdom.
“Wendy is a very good artist, committed and serious with her work. When we took her to the UK last year, she entertained a lot of people and this is why we negotiated with Afrika Tage to include her in the festival, and they accepted,” explained Moore.
According to Moore, Wendy will be in the company of popular Zambian musicians Chameleon, Exile and the sensational Nalu.
“This is a great opportunity not only for Wendy but the country. Her music will put Malawi on the map. It may be a very good step in the right direction for the music industry in Malawi,” she added.
Wendy can’t wait to do Malawi proud at the festival, which has in the past attracted stars like Lucky Dube. To her, it is like a dream come true since she has always wanted to be the country’s music ambassador.
“This is wonderful news to me. I am very pleased and honoured and hope to do all I can to prove my mettle. To me, the sky is not the limit. This is just the beginning,” said the excited Wendy.
She said she believes this is an opportunity for her to exploit the European market and hopes to have a great time at the festival.
Wendy’s Zambian music buddy, Danny explained that it is difficult to ignore Wendy as she is fast becoming another music attraction. Danny claims Wendy’s music in Zambia—where her manager spotted her—is steadily growing and winning international acclaim.
Little wonder Moore hooked her to Tiyende Pamodzi Global Entertainment—a partnership between Zambians living home and those living abroad which aims at promoting, developing and preserving Zambian culture. It also seeks to share African culture with the global village through Zambian music and art.
“Wendy is part of the family and if all goes according to plan, she will be travelling with other musicians to Australia in August and the USA in October this year to perform,” explained Moore. The promoter is also looking at the possibility of taking Malawi’s top gospel artists on board.
Afrika Tage, a brainchild of Medhat Abdelati, an Egyptian national living in Germany, is a festival focused on African products, music and laid-back African lifestyle. Started in 2004, the festival has become a popular annual event which attacts thousands of visitors from across Europe.
As a concept, Afrika Tage combines African music, concerts, percussion/dance workshops, markets, exotic recipes, fashion, hairdressing and story telling.
Wendy, who was scheduled to leave yesterday through Lusaka, will no doubt learn a lot from the festival and return home with better ideas.
Wendy’s music career started when she quit her job as a marketing executive at FM 101 Radio in the late 1990s to join Lucius Banda’s Zembani Band where she made a name for herself as a dancing and ragga queen.
She quit Zembani a few years ago to concentrate on her solo music career. She has so far produced two albums, Hero and Africa.
What's up between Wendy and Danny
When Wendy and Zambian music star Danny announced their partnership more than a year ago aimed at promoting each other’s music careers, the rumour mill had it that the two had a cozy thing going.
And when Wendy travelled to Zambia for a string of joint shows with Danny, wild speculation of a celebrity romance heightened. It was said that their shared love for music had melted their hearts into each other, making a romantic relationship possible.
But sorry folks. There is no more than a professional relationship—at least that is what both artists tell Chill. They say such talk has been and will always be there and laughed off any insinuations of a steamy affair.
“We are just friends, helping each other in the music business,” says Wendy. “Danny’s mission is to work with various artists in different countries as one way of marketing his music. In return, Danny is helping produce and market my music, especially in Zambia.”
Reports reaching Chill are that Wendy’s music in Zambia is growing steadily and is getting substantial airplay on various radio stations.
Wendy adds that her relationship with Zambian musicians and promoters is strengthened further by Zambians’ appreciation of her music.
“I have tried several Malawians for assistance but they have not really shown interest,” explains the sexy ragga artist after her album launch at The Warehouse in Blantyre last week.
Danny, fondly called ‘Lover Boy’ back in Zambia, concurs with Wendy and says despite being friends, there are no romantic feelings between them.
“Apart from Wendy, I am working with other artists in various countries, including Zimbabwe. I am working on similar partnerships in Namibia. The aim really is to make my music reach the whole SADC region while at the same time helping these musicians make it big in my country.”
“Basically, that’s how I relate with Wendy and we are learning a lot together about the music industries of the two countries,” explains Danny, famed for his controversial Yakumbuyo hit song. |
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