It’s an invitation to discover the sights and sounds of Zimbabwe with Mix The City Harare. Wherever you are, listen to Zimbabwe’s musicians and journey through iconic landmarks on your mobile, tablet or computer then use the simple on-screen controls to create your own music mix and share it online.
UK Music Producer Oliver Bayston, better known as Boxed In, has joined up with the British Council for this project – an interactive music platform that invites users to explore the music of the country and create unique music compositions that can be shared online. There have been a total of ten “Mix the City” versions globally so far. Mix The City Harare is the first of its kind in the whole of Africa. Users from over 208 countries and over two million people have already accessed the Mix The City platform worldwide.
Earlier in the year, Boxed In or rather … Ollie as he was so fondly referred to in Zimbabwe; recorded 12 local musicians.
“I was honoured to be asked to take part in a second project for the Mix The City series. To be given the opportunity to travel to Harare to meet such an incredible array of talented and interesting musicians has been a defining and humbling moment in my life of making music. From recording, singing and dancing along with Vabati VaJehova in the beautiful Lion and Cheetah Park at sunset, to recording DJ Smiley in the place of Zim Dancehall’s origin, the whole trip has been rich with experience.” – Oliver Bayston (Boxed In)
Discover Dr Oliver Mtukudzi, legendary co-founder of the regional band ‘Mahube’ who is known by his many fans as Tuku; polyrhythmic percussionist Douglas Vambe, famous for the drum beat that has announced national news bulletins since 1962; dancehall artist Soul Jah Love; Afro-beat superstars Jah Prayzah and Ammara Brown; Josh Meck, one of Zimbabwe’s most high profile Afro-jazz musicians; DJ Ray Dizz who has showcased his work at Ministry of Sound (London), Harare International Festival of the Arts and DJ Mag (Las Vegas); and Othnell ‘Mangoma’ Moyo, an ethnomusicologist and craftsman who builds the majority of the instruments he uses. Also featured are the ever energetic Blessing Chimanga, DJ Smylie, the Prince Edward School Marimba Band and the renowned apostolic choral group Vabati va Jehova.
The musicians were recorded in iconic locations across the city including the Lion and Cheetah Park, the National Art Gallery of Zimbabwe, Harare International Airport, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, Joina City Mall – the biggest shopping mall in Zimbabwe – Kuimba Shiri Bird Sanctuary, JP Studios, Prince Edward School Chapel, the colourful Mbare Flats, Julius Nyerere Footbridge and the legendary Dr Oliver Mtukudzi’s Pakare Paye Arts Centre
You don’t need to be a musician yourself to use Mix The City – select the musicians you want to hear and watch your creation come to life. Launched in April 2015, Mix The City Tel Aviv – partly funded by The Space and the BBC – led to a further nine incarnations of Mix The City globally, this Zimbabwean edition has been partly funded by Econet Wireless and supported by Zimbabwean Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry and Harare International Festival of the Arts and will launch tomorrow globally. Mix The City launches today, check out our Twitter & Facebook for details.
