Coke Studio comes alive

By Takudzwa Chihambakwe

The much-awaited brand new season of the continental musical spectacle, Coke Studio Africa, is set to start airing on ZTV on Tuesday August 15.

The show is set to kick-off with the episode featuring Zimbabwe’s most sought-after musician, Jah Prayzah, who collaborates with Mozambican star, Mr Bow.

This year’s edition comes loaded with a lot of fiery collaborations among various top African artistes, who include the likes of Bebe Cool, Eddy Kenzo and Sheebah, Ykee Benda representing Uganda, Nasty C, Busiswa, Mashayabhuqe from South Africa, Runtown and Yemi Alade from Nigeria.

To add to that, this edition also sees the merger of the various Coke Studios in different African countries into one unit.

“Coke Studio Africa showcases Africa’s incredible music by combining different artistes and genres to inspire a new generation of African music fans.

“With the expanded show, we aim to bring the continent alive through a fusion of music and culture that celebrates our diversity,” said the senior content excellence manager for Coca-Cola Southern and East African business unit and Coke Studio Africa project director, Monali Shah.

The merger increases the number of participating countries to 16, up from 11 in previous edition. This seasons’ shows will be broadcast in more than 30 countries across Africa and production now includes artistes from Rwanda, Angola, Togo, Madagascar, Mauritius, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Nigeria, Ghana, Mozambique, DRC, Ethiopia and Cameroon.

“Music is the heartbeat and the soul of many diverse communities throughout Africa. From Bongo to Kwaito to Lingala and other genres across Africa, Coke Studio Africa is helping introduce these different musical styles to new communities for the first time, while maintaining a long tradition of Coca-Cola’s use of music to build its brands,” she said.

Bringing it back closer to home, Jah Prayzah will also feature in another episode in which he collaborates with Joey B from Ghana, Ethiopia’s Betty G and American R&B star, Jason Derulo, in a remix of the latter’s track, “In My Head”.

Spicing things furthermore, Malawian born artiste and record producer based in South Africa, Gemini Major also debuts as a Coke Studio Africa music producer on the show this year.

He has pitched tent in Kenya for three weeks now to produce three major collaborations between the following artiste pairings: Shekhinah (South Africa) and Jano Band (Ethiopia), Sheebah (Uganda) and Asgegnew Ashko (Ethiopia) and Tresor (South Africa) and Locko (Cameroon).

Speaking in Nairobi on his Coke Studio experience so far, Gemini said:

“It has been an amazing experience working with different artistes and sharing their culture. I am learning a lot from them and they are also learning from me. Kenyan people are so friendly, down to earth and everybody seems humble.”

Coke Studio Africa is a non-competitive music collaboration show, which seeks to bring together and celebrate the diversity of African music and talent.

Coke Studio Africa is at the forefront of bringing talented artistes together, creating effortless fusion and generating global buzz for musicians who are looking for that very platform. The Sunday Mail