All is set for a yesteryear musical experience as music legend and revered Pastor, Zex Manatsa has been confirmed as the second guest artist to perform at this year’s Free to Worship (FTW) concert on October 1 in London.
The founder and former frontman of the popular Green Arrows band will join gospel sweetheart, Ntokozo Mbambo in a stellar line-up of musicians for the event taking place at the Dominion Centre in the heart of Woodgreen.
The event’s Production Manager, Tawanda Sarireni has said that he is completely over the moon due to this development and was eagerly anticipating the event.
“We grew up listening to the sounds of Zex Manatsa and the Green Arrows, so to have him perform at our fifth concert is beyond incredible and we are truly humbled that he has accepted,” Sarireni revealed.
He added that; “Zex is a music icon and one of Africa’s most amazing bass players and, we cannot wait to hear what he has in store for the night.”
Manatsa, a self-taught bass player, launched his music career at the age of 17 in Mhangura. His ‘raspy’ vocals and unusual skills on the bass guitar defined the band’s sound.
The Green Arrows band is considered one of the most important musical ensembles to have emerged from Zimbabwe in the 1970’s. Formed by Zex and Stanley Manatsa in 1966, The Green Arrows quickly rose to become one of the most sought after bands in Zimbabwe, formerly Rhodesia.
Nicknamed “hwahwa (beer) music”, the band predominately played at large drinking dens, where the nation’s workers congregated. They quickly made a name for themselves and solidified their rank as the most dynamic and diverse band at the time.
The Green Arrows were, moreover, the first Zimbabwean band to record an LP in 1976 and held the record for staying at number one with Musango Mune Hangaiwa for a period of four months. Nehanda Radio
