ILIMA RECORDS REVEALS 2023 WINNER OF THE INAUGURAL STUDIO RECORDING AWARD OF THE NYANGA ARTS FESTIVAL

PRESS RELEASE 31.10.23 – Immediate Release

The newly established ILIMA RECORDS will honour the emerging musician, composer and songwriter ‘EQUALIZAH’ winner of the inaugural Ilima Studio Recording Award, which is being launched in partnership with the Nyanga Arts Festival (NAF), Nyangani FM, Zi FM and Music Crossroads Academy Zimbabwe.    

The award follows auditions conducted in October by Nyangani FM – targeting local artists as part of the build-up to the 2nd edition of the Nyanga Arts Festival, culminating in the maiden Ilima Records / NAF / Nyangani FM’s Local Emerging Talent Showcase (LETS).   The award includes a recording contract, studio fees, suppport for session musicians where needed, and technical support in preparation for studio work and marketing support.ILIMA RECORDS was established in 2023 to facilitate the creation, production and marketing of indigenous music to enhance music business in Zimbabwe, with a view to increasing the consumption of African music products globally. 

The core business of Ilima is music recording and publishing, neighbouring rights, artist management and a full-service booking and touring agency for partnered artists.  The label is established by Nhimbe Trust.   EQUALIZAH (U-Roy Panashe Mujuru, 25) is a musician of the traditional and contemporary chimurenga music genre, hails from Nyanga Nyamhuka, and now based in Harare. Starting out on Marimba in high school, he later met and learned Mbira from acclaimed Mbira musician Noel Chakanya, and grew to write his own music, which is his passion. In 2022 he learned of the inaugural NAF, and through Nyangani FM,got onto the programme, performing at the Chief Saunyama’s Stage. This gave him the opportunity to attend the Music Business workshop, which was part of the 2022 NAF programme, where he heard of the learning opportunities offered at the Music Crossroads Academy in Harare Zimbabwe.  

Equalizah says “While I was wondering how in the world, I would fund that, I saw a call for sponsorship by Music Crossroads Academy Zimbabwe on the Artists WhatsApp group created by the NAF. I learnt that NAF had partnered with Music Crossroads Academy Zimbabwe to arrange for one of the scholarships to be granted to a Nyanga-based artist.So, I applied for the scholarship with the help of the then Ministry of Youth, Sports, Arts and Recreation in Nyanga, got accepted and I am now undertaking the first year Certificate in Professional Music.” 

The scholarship programme is funded by the UK-based audio equipment company Focusrite and covers his tuition and accommodation costs in Harare. “Being at the Music Crossroads Academy Zimbabwe gave me an opportunity for exposure and insightful knowledge about music. Starting with some little gigs with the band Too Open led by Brian Nhanhanga, a guitar teacher from the Music Crossroads Academy Zimbabwe, I got the experience of performing in front of an audience and gained confidence. 

As time went on, I heard about Music Crossroad Academy Zimbabwe’s Ethno Zimbabwe programme and what it does for young artists like me, which is amazing. I applied and was exempted from the $100 application fee, again as a result of the Focusrite scholarship programme. It was a quite an experience playing at Ethno Zimbabwe with musicians from other countries such as Chile, Uganda, Tanzania, South Africa, Malawi and Mozambique. I also took part in the Music Crossroads Academy Zimbabwe collaborative project Sounds of Africa, which involved musicians from Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.  

In this project I was one of the lead vocalists and this inspired me to start working on my first album” he says. For the future, Equalizah would like to help in preserving his culture by working with other artists to lift the flag of Zimbabwe and Africa on different platforms in the world, and also serve as a ladder for other emerging artists in his community and nation. He says “I am so grateful” but that he does not have enough words to express his gratitude to the Nyanga Arts Festival, the Ministry of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, Music Crossroads Academy Zimbabwe, and Focusrite for the opportunities afforded him.  

And now the Ilima Records award will take him to a higher level. He offers his very sincere thanks to everyone involved. His advice to fellow musicians from Nyanga would be “Know yourself!  Be clear about your vision and stick to it!  Do not listen to anybody with negative thoughts, opinions and ideas.  Just keep focused.  Stay positive, stay humble and most of all believe in yourself.God will make a way.”   

 Equalizah appeared at the main stage of the 2023 edition of Nyanga Arts Festival at the Montclair Hotel and Casino on 28 October, and delivered an exciting performance which won the approval of the audience and brought the crowd surging towards the stage.

Stay tuned for the unfolding of Equalizah’s Ilima Records 2023 Studio Recording Award.