{"id":3297,"date":"2021-12-27T12:45:00","date_gmt":"2021-12-27T12:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/povo.africa\/journal\/?p=3297"},"modified":"2022-03-11T10:12:07","modified_gmt":"2022-03-11T10:12:07","slug":"16womenvoices-black-afro","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/povo.africa\/journal\/16womenvoices-black-afro\/","title":{"rendered":"#16WomenVoices – Black Afro"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Tell us a bit about yourself<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

My name is Sharleen Eunice Jirongo, also known as Black Afro.  I was born on the 19th of October 1995 in Masvingo, grew up in Harare with my parents and siblings and I am the 4th born in a family of six children. I did my primary level at ZRP support Unit Primary School and my secondary education was at Oriel Girls High. Apart from music I am studying travel, tourism and hospitality. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Black Afro accompanied on stage by Pamzy and Nasibo (Photo: <\/em>Annie Mpalume<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

How was your experience with the #16WomenVoices project and collaboration? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

16WomenVoices project was a great experience for me because I  got to meet and work with a different talented female artists, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What inspired you to become a musician? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Growing up, I was a quiet person and found it difficult to express my feelings,  so I used music as my voice, my strength and comfort. Also I had much inspiration from my Uncle who is a musician as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Black Afro <\/em>(Photo: <\/em>Annie Mpalume<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Who are your biggest music influences?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

My biggest musical influences are Lila Ike,  Celine Dion, and Chiwoniso Maraire, it’s all in their music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How would you describe the music that you typically create? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The type of music I do is Afro-jazz, Afro fussing and reggae. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is your creative process like?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When creating music most times it just hits me without even thinking,   I just get melodies in my head and I find words to play around that melody and sometimes I use instrumentals,  I don’t usually need a specific time or place to create something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you play any instruments?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Iam learning Mbira (Nyunga Nyunga and Nhare). I’m also looking forward to learning the piano as well,  these are just the instruments I have fallen in love with <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you have any hobbies or interests outside of music?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

My hobbies are cooking, gardening, watching movies, and given a chance I’d also love to play tennis <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who would you most like to collaborate with and why?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I wouldn’t give a specific name for collaborations because I am a person who enjoys working with different people,  so basically I  can do collaborations with anyone willing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Black Afro accompanied on stage by Pamzy and Nasibo<\/em> (Photo: <\/em>Annie Mpalume<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Tell us about the most memorable performance in your career.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

My most memorable performance was at Roosevelt Secondary school, it was a Catholic function (wold youth day) and my friends and I were performing there as a band, Trable band was the name, back then we were just amateurs in the music industry but it was an awesome experience and I loved it,  I remember when it was time for me to perform my song I forgot lyrics and went blank, it gave me a  great lesson and a great experience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What’s the best piece of advice another musician ever gave you?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have worked with a musician by the name Samba Ranx who told me that, “when you feel like giving up, that’s when you should stand up and start pushing”. And I thank him every day, for those few words keep me going. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you follow a process or ritual before a performance to get rid of nerves or performance anxiety?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before performance, I mostly do vocal warm-ups <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Black Afro backed by Nasibo<\/em> (Photo: <\/em>Annie Mpalume<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

How important is music to society<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Music is very important to society.  It is entertainment,  it comforts, it excites and relieves the human mind.  Music is some kind of therapy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you could go open a show for any artist who would it be and why?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I can open a show for any artist, I can gladly do it, music is entertainment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you could change anything about the industry, what would it be?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If I could change anything in the music industry, it would be an abuse of talent, especially for a female artist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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