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AMAKHOSIKAZI: Zimbabwe's all-women band
Book Cafe
August 21, 2006

AMAKHOSIKAZI is the first all-women band in Zimbabwe and it was put together by the Amakhosi Township Square Cultural Centre (TSCC) under the Women In Arts Project. Besides instrument playing, singing and dancing; the Women In Arts Project combines sound engineering, stage designing and more technical aspects of music. It is a calculated attempt by women to walk into the male dominated technical fields of arts.

The project, that draws a lot of its members from local women, also has two members from outside Zimbabwe. This has made it the African answer to the world's all-female band but more importantly the presence of the women has added a new dimension to the cultural make-up of the group as they introduced new instruments from their cultures.

Most arts organizations and musicians don't give women a chance as they feel that women are only good as dancing flowers. The women in the Amakhosikazi project feel that the project is one of its kind as it offers them challenges to conquer.

They have already released an album, Ukuthandana, and another one is coming. They have toured nationally and are waiting for their break internationally.

Initially the plan was to group together experienced musicians and the plan had to be changed when no one responded to the advert. Amakhosi therefore had to start from scratch teaching the women all the instruments.

For most women, the project is quiet an achievement.

When the project started, one of their tutors had this to say about them: "They're amateurs off course, but they have a future. Women have been sidelined for a long time making it difficult for them to come out fully and participate in music."

Ever since that was said about them, the group has grown in strength and it is now a big group that is celebrated in local music circles. In an age that specializes in digital music, they are one of the few leaders in terms of live music. They have participated in a lot of concerts including the launch of the Zimbabwe International Film Festival (ZIFF), backed South African mega star Yvonne Chaka Chaka at the Sports Diner in Harare and they have held their own concerts that are far numerous to list.

Chaka Chaka feels that these women have a future and they need all the support they can get to make an impact.

The challenges that they have faced include family problems as they have to look after children and raise a family. They also have financial problems and they also need instruments to practice at home as individuals.

The achievement of assembling a women-only music ensemble is made greater by the fact that the women are drawn from different backgrounds.

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