Afro-jazz star charms at Bellissima

Erna Chimu is no stranger to the city’s most sought-after stages but on a balmy Saturday evening, the beguiling Afro jazz and folk music star takes it easy at Windhoek’s Craft Café Bellissima.

The stage is simple: A couple of mics, a glossy black backdrop and Sam Batola accompanying Chimu on guitar.

As Chimu makes light work of a number of pared down songs from her trio of albums – ‘Imamakunguwe’ (2009), ‘Hai Serute’ (2014) and ‘Uprising’ (2019) – the crowd, which includes her mother and daughter, sways, cheers and applauds appreciatively.

It’s an unpretentious and invigorating night out. Chimu’s voice, velvety and emotive, reimagines beloved covers by Tracy Chapman and Miriam Makeba, and pays tribute to Jackson Kaujeua and Hugh Masekela.

Smiling, twirling and thoroughly charming the diverse audience, Chimu adds a level of prestige to the Craft Café Bellissima stage. The platform has become a home for established, as well as up-and-coming music makers, courtesy of fellow jazz singer and establishment owner Sharon van Rooi.

Every Friday and Saturday night, Craft Café Bellissima transforms from a stylish little coffee shop to an exciting stage.

Artists such as pianist George Longane, Christopher Blake, Orji, Alvara, Euphoria, as well as Mr Bengue and Anna, are recent headliners. Over the next few weeks, the event will feature Xavier Night, Vocalfront, a College of the Arts concert and Roberto Meneguzzo.

“It’s all about giving back to the community and establishing a platform for arts and culture. I’ve seen the challenges that we artists and arts students face to secure platforms,” says Van Rooi, who is also a music lecturer at the College of the Arts.

“I think it’s important that we, as Namibians, support artists as much as we possibly can because we have so much talent within the country. Arts and culture is one of the activities that are highly neglected in Namibia,” she says.

Describing Craft Café Bellissima as a stage for everyone, Van Rooi encourages singers, musicians and music makers to reach out.

“You can contact me or contact Lize Ehlers, who runs our social calendar. I think she is a phenomenal public figure and people are following these evenings very well because of her legacy,” says Van Rooi.

“Lize sets a major example. She is one of the musicians who know what it takes to be successful and to keep on climbing the ladder of success.”

Famed for her tireless work with Song Night Namibia, which catapulted numerous singers into the music industry, Ehlers minds the calendar, the sound and the music at Craft Café Bellissima with an air of elegant expertise.

To see Chimu on stage, Van Rooi being a bubbly host and Ehlers on the decks, is to be in the presence of musical legends intent on uplifting the industry, while dazzling patrons with their own hard-won prowess.

When Chimu concludes, with a laugh, a smile, a dance, Van Rooi’s invitation to the live music loving public is warm and promising.

“Come out to Craft Café Bellissima to enjoy great music, great company and food that speaks to the soul,” she says.

– martha@namibian.com.na; Martha Mukaiwa on Twitter and Instagram; marthamukaiwa.com