Somi’s scheduled concert at Nirox moved to State Theatre
The concert also features Thandiswa Mazwai, Msaki, Nduduzo Makhathini, and Sipho Hostix Mabuse.
By Edward Tsumele
The performance by Grammy nominated artists Somi scheduled to take place at Nirox in the Craddle of ManKind, on March 25, 20222, has now been shifted to the South African State Theatre in Pretoria In a mediaastatement released yesterday, (Wednesday, March 23, 20222, the organisers confirmed the new venue for this much awaited shows and also revealed the other artists who will share the bill with her.
However the organisers did not divulge the reasons for the last minute change of venue only a few days before the scheduled performance.
“Due to unforeseen circumstances, Somi’s release event for her new album ZENZILE: The Reimagination of Miriam Makeba has been moved to a new venue and will now take place at The State Theatre in Pretoria on Sunday March 27. Apologies to early ticket holders for the changes and any inconvenience this may have caused.
The upcoming show at The State Theatre will feature Thandiswa Mazwai and Msaki, as well as Nduduzo Makhathini and Sipho Hotstix Mabuse. Tickets are priced between R275.00 – R500.00 at Webtickets
https://www.webtickets.co.za/v2/event.aspx?itemid=1513445949
Somi is looking forward to bringing this project home to South Africa on the heels of a triumphant album celebration at the legendary Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York City where she featured five-time Grammy winning jazz vocalist Dianne Reeves as well as internationally celebrated South African singers Thandiswa Mazwai and Msaki.
GRAMMY-nominated vocalist Somi unveiled her new album Zenzile: The Reimagination of Miriam Makeba on the 4th of March. The fifth studio record from the East African singer-songwriter honors the late South African singer-songwriter and civil rights activist Miriam Makeba; and its March 4 release date marked what would have been Makeba’s 90th birthday.
Zenzile: The Reimagination Of Miriam Makeba, is a celebration of the late Makeba’s invaluable musical contributions and messages of social justice. The album, which will be released on the artist’s Salon Africana label, features Somi’s renditions of some of Makeba’s best known songs—both Makeba’s own compositions and covers.
In recognition of Makeba’s resonance throughout Africa and the diaspora, Somi invited several special guests to perform on Zenzile: The Reimagination of Miriam Makeba including from South Africa: Grammy-winning male vocal group, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, singer-songwriter Msaki, vocalist and activist Thandiswa Mazwai, and jazz pianist-composer Nduduzo Makhathini. In addition to Gregory Porter, additional guests include Nigerian singer-musician Seun Kuti (Fela Kuti’s youngest son), and GRAMMY® Award-winning singer-songwriter and activist Angelique Kidjo.
Says Somi about her show at The State Theatre in Pretoria on the 27th of March: “It was so important for me to bring this project honoring Mama Miriam back to the very place she called home. I’m deeply indebted to so many South African artists and friends who have held my hand through and to this moment.
From early conversations with uBabu’ Hugh Masekela when I started thinking about making this project seven years ago to the generous offerings of the South African special guests on the album who stand firmly in her lineage and have taught me so much through their own work. In small and large ways, so many people have supported, taught, and reminded me of how her voice and legacy was and is truly Pan-African. That homegrown South African support is what gave me courage to try to locate her voice inside of my own and I am deeply grateful.”
Hailed for her “African grooves, supple jazz singing and compassionate social consciousness … both serious and seductive” by The New York Times, Somi is known for her wide-ranging vocal technique and her original blend of modern jazz with African music styles. The multi-faceted singer, songwriter, playwright, and actor of Rwandan and Ugandan descent has built a career of transatlantic storytelling to give voice to issues of social justice, transnationalism, womanhood, and global constructions of Blackness.
This tour by the US based African artists comes against the backdrop of the good news to the entertainment industry as President Cyril Ramaphosa on Tuesday announced that venues can now accommodate audiences up to 50% of capacity. This is the news many have been waiting for in the past two years as holding an event of the scale of a music concert or festival remained a pipe dream for most of the past two years due to the Covid-19 related restrictions.