Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. After an impressive Valentine’s dinner act at Katikitiki Restaurant in Harare, US-based R & B artiste Sambiri intends to establish more visibility in Zimbabwe and on the continent.
He is pushing for a slot at music festivals such as the Unplugged, Jacaranda, Zimstock and Doek & Slay, which have been featuring Zimbabwean and international stars.
At the Katikitiki Valentine event, diners were treated to songs like Pandakuwana, Reason to Live and Good Intentions, and a preview of a couple of upcoming tracks, like Nzio, among others.
During his month-long stay, which has been predominantly a reunion with his family in Nyanga and his friends in Harare, Sambiri has been working on six music videos and will be collaborating with young, up-and-coming artistes on two of the visuals.
Born in Nyanga, Sambiri was an active member of the praise and worship team at his father’s church, something he inherited from his father’s siblings.
When he left Zimbabwe for the US, he got his first laptop at the age of 14 and discovered music production. He started writing, producing and recording to cope with social anxiety in a new environment where he attended school with a strong American culture.
Sambiri said his future shows would live up to their billing.
He said practice made perfect.
“Preparation is key — I rehearse a lot, including movements, vocal delivery and even choreography. I push my band to practise intensely so that we’re tight yet spontaneous, allowing the energy of the crowd to shape each performance. Everything is planned, from outfits to stage presence, but there’s always room for improvisation to keep things fresh,” the artiste said.
“This was the first time performing my songs live with a full band, so fans heard my music in a new way. The energy was high and the emotions were strong because it was my first time meeting and performing for the people who have been supporting me in Zimbabwe.”
He described the Valentine’s show as “unbelievable”.
“Seeing so many people who spent their time and money to come to see me, whether as couples or individuals, was incredibly emotional. Hearing them sing along to my songs for the first time was both overwhelming and affirming — I can do this. The energy, the love in the space, the connection between me, the band and the audience — it all came together in a way that made me feel like this is exactly where I’m meant to be. I can’t wait to do more of these shows, to connect with even more people and to bring this experience to an even bigger stage,” Sambiri said.
Katikitiki’s owner Eleni described Sambiri as a humble artiste.
He greeted and spoke to every single person who attended. His live performance was even better than what we expected. A man with serious integrity and professionalism.”
Sambiri’s songwriting process involves spending a lot of time alone, reflecting on conversations and experiences.
“My songwriting process is like replaying moments in my mind — whether it’s personal experiences or things people have shared with me,” he said.
For example, my song Roora came from a conversation with a friend who was saying, “I’m of marriage age, but I don’t have the money to get married.” That conversation stayed with me and I turned it into a song. My writing is a way of processing emotions and stories, almost like painting a canvas with music.
How does he balance creative vision with the commercial aspects of the music industry?
“It’s difficult, but being self-funded allows me to stay true to my creative vision. I have a regular job, so I don’t have to compromise my music for sponsors or labels. The downside is that I can’t always execute everything I want due to budget limitations, but it has allowed me to grow organically and authentically without external pressure,” Sambiri said.
The artiste said the best way people could support him was by sharing his music.
“Share it with your friends, your family and even strangers. Word of mouth is powerful and getting my music to more ears is the greatest gift you can give me,” he said.
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