CHINESE Guqin player Belle Qiu will perform two shows on June 28 at the Reps Theatre in Harare.
Belle will partner Sabelo Nyoni, a pianist-cum-chorister, and Anesu Ndoro, a singer and multi-instrumentalist who will also have a solo performance.
The first show is at 2pm and the evening recital will be at 6pm.
Nyoni, who is also the manager of Reps Theatre, said that they would be in an unprecedented collaboration, which sought to mesmerise the audience through fused Chinese and African musical sounds.
She described the performance as an opportunity to experience the meditative tones of the Chinese Guqin, the haunting resonance of the Uhadi and the expressive range of the piano all on one stage.
“This is your chance to witness a musical encounter that defies borders and genres, right here in Harare at the Theatre Upstairs, Reps Theatre on June 28, 2025. Meet Anesu Ndoro, Belle and Sabelo Nyoni; three musical explorers from different worlds, united by a passion to create something truly original,” Sabelo said.
Their journey began as a playful idea between Nyoni, a pianist and choral director, and Belle, a master of the Guqin from China.
“When I sought to add African stringed instruments to the mix, fate led me to Anesu, a Zimbabwean instrument builder and multi-instrumentalist.”
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The concert is steeped in times gone by and the modernisation of traditional and folk music. Belle brings the Guqin, a seven-stringed zither with a 7 000-year-old legacy, revered in Chinese culture for its spiritual and scholarly significance. She will perform pieces dating as far back as 2200BC, 100AD, and 750AD, and, therefore, offering a rare glimpse into the ancient musical traditions of China.
Nyoni, with over four decades of piano mastery, adds Western classical flair and deep musical insight, drawing from her extensive experience as a pianist, accompanist and musicologist. Ndoro revives and reimagines Zimbabwe’s musical heritage with instruments like the chipendani, chitende, chivandudzo, uhadi, and umakhweyana, as well as the autoharp. His performances breathe new life into archival African music, blending tradition with creative innovation.
Nyoni added that Afro-Sino Dreams is more than a concert; instead, it’s a cultural dialogue.
“Expect to hear Guqin's subtle, introspective melodies intertwine with the earthy timbres of African stringed instruments and the expressive voice of the piano. This is music that bridges continents, celebrates diversity and invites you to experience the world through sound,” she said.
This ground-breaking collaboration is not only an artistic endeavour but a cultural milestone, especially relevant in the era of Zimbabwe’s Heritage-Based Curriculum being implemented across schools and colleges.
Musical partnerships like Afro-Sino Dreams are symbolic of the evolving refinement of traditional music, not only in terms of cultural expression but also in the advancement and appreciation of quality musical instruments from different cultures, experts say.
