By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
Talking Drum lead singer — Michael Lannas — who is back in Zimbabwe from his United Kingdom base is set to perform at Ngoma Dzinotaura Music Festival slated for May 30 in Harare.
The must attend festival will feature other heavy hitters the likes of Kelly Rusike and Jazz Invitation, Dizmatic, Nick Kuraz, Ruda C and Trey Sean starting from 12 midday until 6pm at 102 Thetford Road Avonlea.
There will be lots of tea and cake on sale and fans are allowed to bring their own drinks.
Tickets can be purchased on 0773543417 or 0787906920.
The concert will be a perfect homecoming gig for the legendary Lannas who is more popularly known for such hits as The River, Come To Me (Hapana Mazwi) and Moyo Wangu Urikuchema among others.
Before he left Zimbabwe for the UK, Lannas was and still commanding a huge following locally and abroad.
Born in Harare. At a very young age of four and five was drawn to traditional African music. He says he came into contact with a lot of migrant workers, many of whom were musicians; what are referred to as “Maskanda”.
They performed on tradition instruments such as the Ngongo, The Hungu and Lekope. Maskanda guitar was very popular. Phuzekhemisi was and still is a Legend.
All this music was constantly on the radio during his youth and heavily influenced his music.
Before forming his own group or rather what he calls music concept, Talking Drum, Lannas started out music in a band called Dharma with Isaac Chirwa and made many movements.
As Talking Drum he has worked with Kelly Rusike, Ngoni Andrew Chikuse, Matthew Ngorima, Mark Madzinga, Nicholas Mutuwa, Hazel Fernandes, Kelvin Tsapi, Tammy Chirema, Pikirai Mangindi, Courage Gwezhira and Albert Dust Carr in the Talking Drum Projects – Stimela and Take Me Home.
Lannas says the late Benny Miller, Peter Maparutsa as well as South Africa based Keith Farqhaurson were among his best producers from way back when.
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