If you are a fan of Afro pop and R n B music, you have probably heard of Kim Makumbe, the rising star from Harare, Zimbabwe. Her catchy single Body, which celebrates body positivity and speaks against body shaming, has been on Trace Africa music channel, reaching millions of people across the continent. Kim Makumbe’s success story is a testament to the impact of the Scripts and Bars creative incubator programme.
About Scripts and Bars
Scripts and Bars is a digital content creation programme that brings together 100 creatives from Zimbabwe and UK to deliver collaborative artwork across the Music and Literature sectors. Delivered by Kay Media Africa and UK-based Reprezent (UK), the programme aims to stimulate the Zimbabwe and UK creatives in digital content creation and developing and growing skills that lead to more professional opportunities. It offers financial support in the form of a grant, as well as digital and enterprise skills training, access to distributors and agents, and networking opportunities.
Kim Makumbe was one of the 100 participants selected to participate in the programme in 2022. Before that, she had released a few singles which had struggled to get regular rotation on radio. She had also released a few music videos that had received a bit of airplay on local TV but had struggled to breakthrough on major music TV stations such as Trace Africa to reach a wider audience. She felt frustrated and discouraged by the lack of support and exposure for her music.
Through the Scripts and Bars programme, Kim Makumbe accessed valuable financial and technical support services that helped her produce and release a single called Body accompanied by a music video. She worked with talented producers, writers, and directors who helped her polish her craft and express her vision. She also learned how to market her music online, use social media effectively, and connect with potential fans and collaborators.
From local to International audiences
Body was released in July 2022 on most music streaming platforms globally. It received positive feedback from listeners who resonated with its empowering message and catchy beat. It also caught the attention of Trace Africa music channel, which playlisted it in March 2023. Since then, Body has been on rotation on the channel, reaching millions of people across Africa. This has opened the door for Kim Makumbe’s music to reach a wider audience and create more opportunities for her career. Her follow up single Ndazvipira was also successfully playlisted on Trace Africa.
Recently Kim Makumbe Featured on Zimbabwean superstar ExQ’s lates album Enoch where she features on the hit song Mashoko. Kim’s success has also given her access to stages on major festivals such as Unplugged and Stanbic Jacaranda Music Festival in Zimbabwe.
Kim Makumbe is grateful for the Scripts and Bars programme for giving her the chance to showcase her talent and grow as an artist. She says: “Scripts and Bars has been a life-changing experience for me. It has given me the confidence, skills, and network I needed to take my music to the next level. I am so happy that my songs are being heard by more people and that I can inspire others with my message. I would recommend Scripts and Bars to any aspiring creative who wants to make an impact with their work.”
If you want to learn more about Kim Makumbe and her music, you can follow her on Instagram @kimmakumbe or visit her website www.kimmakumbe.com. You can also stream her songs on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, or any other platform of your choice.
If you want to learn more about Scripts and Bars and how it supports young Zimbabwean creatives, you can visit their website www.scriptsandbars.com or follow them on Facebook @scriptsandbars or Twitter (X) @scriptsandbars.