Happy birthday.

Selmor Mtukudzi performs at the end of the International Images Film Festival for Women Awards ceremony in Harare on Saturday evening (29 Nov 08).

She was backed by her band and husband Tendai Manatsa. Their performance, a combination of original tracks and some of Zimbabwe’s golden oldies, got the invited guests onto their feet in an hour and a half of dance floor bliss.

The ceremony saw the best films from the festival being recognised and also acknowledged the work of several women in the community. See more on the Zimbo Jam.

:: More information

^ On your wedding day, remember she’s the queen. Then and after.

^ She will look dazzling- just don’t lick your lips too much…

^ Take her hand and tell her she’s the most beautiful woman in the world.

^ She may opt for a more slender number.

^ She may knock you out with her smile

^ She may even make everything around her pale into a fuzzy blur

^ Your job is to stay on your feet and calm the jelly in your knees

^ Cause when she steps out into that room, there will be no flower more beautiful, no sun more bright,  no moment more perfect…

^ (Whisper) And remember to get her something for the after party…

^ Anything to make her feel she’s the belle of the ball- Cause she is.

^ End daydream here. Here are the guys who organised it all.

The Dance Trust of Zimbabwe (formerly National Ballet) recently featured a week long extravanganza of evening performances in the garden of their Belgravia premises. They call it “Starlight Dancing” and it’s become an annual feature on Harare’s entertainment calendar.

I picked some pics from the evening that I attended, just for you…

^ There is hope in the stars out there

^ Lightly prancing. Tip toe dancing.

^ Take a bow- mexican wave style

^ And two were somewhere in the air

^ Follow the leader

Many thanks to Soukaina for helping me to understand that it’s not as easy as it looks!

I think it’s always fantastic when a Zimbabwean does well at international level and whatever support we can give as a nation we should.

Here’s a great opportunity for us to support a talented daughter of Zimbabwe. Rumbi Katedza’s film, Asylum, is up for an award (RCI Migrations People’s Choice Award) and can only win if we vote.

I’ve watched the film- over my dial up connection- and I LOVED it. It’s just under 5 minutes long so it won’t take much of your time. I may be a bit biased but I know where I’m putting my X.

Is this rigging? Stop asking so many questions. Log on to the website, watch it and decide for youself! Danke!

When I walked into the HICC at around 1100hrs on Saturday (4th October 2008) the first sight that caught my eye was a teenage girl sitting on one of the sofas in the foyer, her head buried in her hands, sobbing loudly. I immediately understood.

She had wanted to make it through to the next round of A Academy but had been unsuccessful.

^ The judges Albert Nyathi, Imelda Mahaka, Willis Wa-Taffy (all this time I thought it was Wataffibut someone told me it was spelt that way. Thanks Sharon- I hope you’re right because ka…) and Admire Taderera

She was one of hundreds who turned up that day to have a go at going through to the next stage.  After talking to a few people I was permitted into the audition room to take some photos.

One by one, I saw young people come in get told by the judges that they were just not up to scratch.

But what really got my attention was that so many of them- after waiting for so long (one guy told me he had waited for five hours) to get their turn- would come into the room almost energyles, seeming very unexcited about the process and unphased. Yes, many of them were understandably nervous, but the jitters are one thing- lack of passion is another.

I couldn’t help thinking that this was VERY bad for business. One young man came in with lots of energy and I could tell that even before he  started singing, the judges had warmed up to him. He greeted them cheerfully, cracked a joke and then began to sing. Whether or not he made it through is not the point. I was struck by his demeanour.

^ Hundreds of young people wait their turn to try out for the CBZ A Academy 2008

I won’t go into moralising but go figure. Did some one turn off the lights in here? Energy please.

I was taking photos at the Combined Schools Choir concert last week Thursday, when something really cool happened. I made a mistake- and out came a fantastic photograph.

Immediately, I  tried to repeat the mistake. No luck. I tried again and again until I could replicate it at will.

By simply zooming out really fast while I was simultaneously taking the photo, it gave the picture a mad crazy zoom effect (The zoom has to be manual. This won’t work with a digital zoom).

I was taken. Still am.

The concert was held at the Celebration Centre and featured just under 500 pupils from 13 Harare Schools. The theme this year was “musica mirabilis est”, meaning “music is beautiful”. The concert drew an audience of over 4,000 people and proceeds from ticket sales (at Z$2,5oo or US$5 a head) will go to the National Musicamp Association and Marondera Child Care Society.

Ok Fungai, you’re saying, great stuff but let’s see some real photos from the event. No problem, I have posted some right here.

The Art of Film, Film as Art. So goes the theme for the 11th edition of the Zimbabwe International Film Festival (ZIFF) which was launched on Friday evening at the 7 Arts Theatre in Harare. The opening film, “The Visitor” was produced in the USA and stars New York based Zimbabwean actress Danai Gurira, who, along with some other people involved with the making of the film is in Zimbabwe for the festival.

^ Danai meets Dudu: Danai Gurira and Dudu Manhenga at a ZIFF 2008 reception.

The opening function drew a crowd of about 300 invited guests.

^ Seen at the ZIFF Hub (L to R excluding the two guys standing in the back there whose names I forgot to take- sorry guys): Zimbabwean film maker Rumbi Katedza, Brazilian film makers Azul Serra, Bianca Turner and Marcel Izidoro.

The festival runs from 5 - 14 September.

:: More about “The Visitor” from Zimbablog
:: More on the festival from Zimbablog
:: Visit the ZIFF website

Dear friend

In an effort to break away from the routine performances I have done in the past years, I bring you a new concept that I call SOLO ENCOUNTERS WITH DUDU MANHENGA. This is a series of performances that I will be holding throughout the country at different intimate and semi intimate venues.

I kindly invite you to the very first encounter;

Venue: Coutauld Theatre at Zimbabwe College of Music in Rotten row adjacent to the Museum and the Rainbow Towers.
Date: 30th of August 2008
Time: 1900hrs - 2200hrs
Cover Charge: US$5 or equivalent Zim dollar market rate of the day

Tickets are available from the following places:

• Zimbabwe College of music (see Mrs Chikwezvero)
• Harry Margolis Hall basement, in Milton Park
• Zimbabwe German Society (No 51 Lawson Avenue)
• At the door on the day

Refreshments and safe parking available.

I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AS I TAKE MY FIRST STEP IN A NEW DIRECTION!!!

Keep it royal.
Dudu

DISCOUNT AND FUN PACKAGES

For a joining fee of JUST $20zim (revalued), these packages can be available to you

• Children under age 12 -free
• Students (with proof)-50% discount
• Memers of the fan club-20% discount
• Colleagues (fellow artists and arts practitioners)-40% discount

If not yet signed  up on any of these packages fill in the attached form and send it back to this same email address or else  sign up on the  30th

CDS AND MERCHANDISE WILL ALSO BE ON SALE…