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<strong>June</strong> 8 to 14 <strong>2014</strong> THE STANDARD STYLE / WOMAN / PROFILE 3<br />
Star Profile<br />
Kudzai<br />
Sevenzo<br />
Kudzai Sevenzo was plunged into the limelight after she<br />
auditioned for Mnet’s reality TV show, Project Fame<br />
in which she was chosen as the sole representative<br />
for Zimbabwe. She made it to the penultimate round<br />
and shortly after, released her debut album, On a day like this.<br />
<strong>The</strong> debut album earned her a ZIMA nomination (Zimbabwe Music<br />
Awards). She received the “Best New Artist” award at the Celebration Music<br />
Awards as well as Nescafe’s “Most Inspiring Female of the year” award that<br />
year.<br />
Kudzai once again found herself on the world stage when she was chosen to be<br />
Zimbabwe’s anchor for Mnet’s TV magazine programme Studio 53. She had a<br />
chance to travel and report on the beautiful cuisine, art and culture of Africa.<br />
Her latest album which received rave reviews, is entitled, Child of Afrika. It has 12<br />
tracks. Kudzai also hosted a radio show for Zimbabwe’s first privately-owned radio<br />
station Zi-FM. <strong>The</strong> exciting breakfast show called “Get Lifted” was a favourite on Sunday<br />
mornings.<br />
An outstanding performer and artist Kudzai runs a top jazz band. She has performed at<br />
festivals and private functions in Southern Africa and Europe. Her passion is music and film.<br />
“I love music and film. People, life experiences - both good and not so good, my highs and lows<br />
with my relationship with God, that all inspires my creativity and passion.”<br />
One of her memorable experiences was having breakfast with the first female president of Africa, Ellen<br />
Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia during her stint on Studio 53. She got to “watch” Sirleaf on a normal day,<br />
interviewed her and followed her on the job.<br />
One of the highlights of her career includes an AMAA nomination (African Movie Academy Awards) for<br />
her lead role in Zimbabwe’s first chick flick, Playing Warriors. She was recently appointed as Proudly<br />
Zimbabwean Foundation’s Brand Ambassador. <strong>The</strong> foundation held the BIN-IT campaign, which has<br />
been successful in eliminating litter in Zimbabwe cities’ central business districts. She<br />
also speaks at various youth groups and press conferences on the danger of<br />
litter build-up in communities.<br />
Kudzai was also a spokesperson for Zim Cares for Life, an organisation<br />
that shelters teen pregnant girls that are destitute.<br />
An ambassador for KidzCan, Kudzai is involved with the<br />
trust that helps kids with cancer.<br />
Her music is a fusion of jazz and soul with a powerful influence<br />
of African rhythms. Her sultry voice and thoughtprovoking<br />
lyrics draw you in at every performance. Ella<br />
Fitzgerald is one of Kudzai’s all-time favourite jazz musicians.<br />
She has also worked with some of Africa’s finest<br />
artists including Oliver Mtukudzi, Judith Sephuma and<br />
Ringo Madlingozi. Currently Kudzai is working on a new<br />
film that will be produced this year.<br />
If she had not been a musician, Kudzai believes she would<br />
have been an interpreter or a translator, “I loved learning<br />
new languages,” she says.