Berry Heart switches to Afro Jazz
Spira Tlhankane | Friday November 30, 2018 14:36
As she transitions into evangelism, Berry Heart told Arts & Culture that she sashays past afro music as a token of goodbye to her many followers who never quite knew what to make of her. The controversial Berry Heart has once more stepped out of her comfort zone and ventured into the popular yet very competitive world of music world of afro Jazz.
Her latest offering Kgolo is an afro jazz album and will be her first try into the world of jazz music and. she says, also her last.
Kgolo is an offering that shows the artist’s willingness to push boundaries. “You must be dynamic, you cannot afford to be typecast as being one thing, you must be driven by passion,” she said. She feels that it is natural that she gravitates towards jazz.
“I learnt the origins and significance of jazz music in Professor Maude Dikobe’s African Diaspora course. A perfect escapism and demonstration of black strength is how I view jazz. My journey through arts was always going to get me here” she added.
Leading this new challenge for Berry Heart is Zenzele Hirschfeld of Zen Promotions.
“Berry Heart’s project is one that enhances that which I have been up about all along. You know I have a long history of doing work with women in arts, especially the music industry.
Women must stick together generally. but women in arts in particularly must do so if they are to bring much needed support and respect in the trade” Hirschfeld said.
The founder of Women of Works, Hirschfeld is nothing but passionate about facilitating collaboration of women in music.
Hirschfeld said adding that to her contribution to the Women of Jazz bears testament to this. Works is a platform that seeks to celebrate women in sectors that have hitherto not been taken serious as career paths. Women in the arts, journalism activism and other non-traditional careers are offered an opportunity to network with women who are more in traditional career paths with a view to show the strength, ability and power of women.
Kgolo launch will feature Punah Gabasiane, Nono Siile and Kearoma Rantao, an all female line up to drive home the passion of the two women behind the project.
“Most line-ups in Botswana are male-dominated appearing to overlook the special talent that Batswana women posses. We seek to throw this as a challenge to sponsors, promoters and fans that women can indeed do it on their own” Berry Heart concluded.