Heritage Survival release a festive hit: Kisimusi Yasvika
By Michael Chipato
Heritage Survival, a Zimbabwean group of musicians based in the UK have released a Christmas single ‘Kisimusi Yasvika’ (It’s Christmas time) just in time for the 2014 festive period.
The single has an accompanying video featuring guest star and director Roby ‘Moyondizvo’ Gee, a musician also based in the UK. With only a week after its release the single has been well received and loved by listeners of radio stations including ZBC Radio.
Heritage Survival have released this Christmas Single ahead of their 12 song Album ‘Rwendo’ to be released in February 2015. All songs on this album were written and composed by Zee Guveya. He was inspired by ‘Life’ in general, focusing on ‘Love’, ‘Poverty’, ‘War’ and other social issues.
One song in particular, ‘Hurombo’, explores his childhood, how he grew up without knowing his father and was raised by his grandparents. Happy moments are explored in another song on the album, ‘Wachata’ where he sings about how happiness can be realised by a couple getting married among other songs with an odyssey of the meaning of life.
The band will be rural touring Cumbria and County Durham in support of this new album on 27 February 2015, 28 February 2015, 6 March 2015 and the 7th of March 2015.
Heritage Survival Band have been actively been in the music business for 10 years now and the Band Leader Zivai ‘Zee’ Guveya’ who is the band’s singer/songwriter, has been playing music since he was a boy and has a rich profile working with Thomas Mapfumo on at least 5 of his albums.
The rest of the band, Tomson Chauke, Paul ‘Prada’ Kuzinya, Norman Muza, Tendai Bhasvi, Grabriel ‘Konyai’ Makamanzi, and Willard ‘Ras Willow’ Karanga, have had a fair share of working with the heavy weights in Zimbabwean music, the likes of Alick Macheso, Andy Brown, Simon Chimbetu, Tongai Moyo and The Zimbabwe Police Band.
With this vast experience in music, this band produces a blend of Afro-rhythms with contemporary grooves capped with an unmistakable traditional Zimbabwean flavour.
The band’s remarkable sound is a combination of Guitars, Brass, Drums, Kongas, Shakers and Mbira. Heritage Survival have performed throughout England at Festivals notably Bestival, Rhythmtree, Marlborough jazz festivals, concert halls and private functions.
Their Albums ‘RWENDO’ and ‘PASI’, will be available through their website, http://www.heritagesurvival.co.uk and on a variety of Internet retailers including Amazon and iTunes music stores soon.
