Dudu, Cool Crooners belt it out at Reps

  These guys sport the exaggerated, comic expressions of professional mime artists along with the limbs and impossible moves of wooden puppets. 
Dudu is nothing if not innovative and this show acknowledges and marks her musical heritage, and stamps emphatically her legacy to future generations.
Rites of Passage emphasises an acknowledged crossing over. It speaks of the journeys, challenges and victories, which deserve recognition and must be celebrated. Join us in celebrating the Rites of Passage of our very own African Princess, Dudu Manhenga. This event is set to promote, inspire and give insight, by showcasing the young, dynamic, sister, wife, storyteller, artist and African who has transitioned to new stages of her career and ultimately life.
It felt like not only a personal crossing over but the chance to cross over as a country – between tribe and place and race. Dudu looks to  a future where it is possible to live with love, to live without war, to live as family where you negotiate to settle your differences.  Where you ‘innovate, create, elevate.’
In this show she recalls history –  the serious history depicted in the Crooners song Zhii, the call to struggle that echoed through the townships in the 60s, the light hearted Saturday mornings when the girls “dressed to kill” and the boys strutted their stuff to impress them.  Amazingly versatile she conjures up gracious old Bulawayo city life alongside herdboy freedom with the piercing whistle calling the cattle and sheds her glamour image for a moment to show her tomboy side and that she can match the dance moves and lift her leg along with any Ndebele boy.  The next breath brings an operatic take on Bob Marley’s Redemption Song.  Wow!
They complement each ot-her – these old men – the Cool Crooners who have been singing together since the 1950s and this young woman born in 1981, a child of freedom. Rites of Passage tells a story – and some of that story is illustrated by the passionate dancing of McIntosh Jerahuni and Maylene Chenjerai. Poet Batsira Chigama also plays a part speaking her words about women, calling on the spirit of ancient queens to welcome this queen, this daughter, mother, sister, singer.
The show was a special treat and I couldn’t understand why there wasn’t more audience.  Dudu’s band Color Blu, including her husband, renowned drummer Blessing Muparutsa, are very slick.  It was a show to match anything we see at HIFA which never fails to bring out the crowds to all venues.
June this year saw Dudu invited to perform in front of the Pope     with a live audience of thousands and a television audience of millions at World Family Day in Milan. Dudu is a world class star – yet somehow she is not appreciated at home. Did people not know? Be sure to catch this show next time around. This is something special from a young lady going places.
Otherwise this week I was impressed by the persistence and professionalism of the census personnel, who came on Sunday to enumerate one householder who works a six-day week, 12-hour day and is hard to find at home otherwise. They were taking their job just as seriously as Dudu. Gives me hope when people do a job well, for the sake of doing it.
Yes to professionalism and innovation.  Thank you Dudu for inspiration and entertainment.
– g.jeke@yahoo.com