Amazing Performer – Adanna Jamila Abubakar Omonyi
When Adanna Jamila Abubakar Omonyi first came to Zimbabwe, aged 23, she little imagined how her life would evolve. Her work visa gave her the chance to work while she researched her love of African music. During the first few months of her visit, she was offered a contract with a drinks company, working in there office. Having accepted, she decided to move to a more convenient apartment, so she upped sticks and settled in nicely to her new position.
Whilst working at the drinks company, Adanna Jamila met Kenneth Omonyi, who she took an instance liking to. She invited him to the charity concert, where she would be performing her own compositions. From there, romance blossomed between Adanna Jamila and Kenneth. “I thought he was so tall and handsome. He is a very gentle man.” Said Adanna Jamila during a recent interview. Kenneth explains: “We worked together and she invited me to a charity concert she was playing in. I saw her playing a song she wrote, when she performed. I thought she was very talented and very beautiful. That concert is now a yearly event in our village and we help the poorer families to set up cooperatives and build schools.”
Adanna Jamila is performing at a series of concerts, to be held locally, next month. Her aim is to gain as much local attention as possible and generate a large sum of money to help with local growth in the community. The current projects under belt are cooperatives, helping local people to create their own small businesses and assist one another in trading and selling, to increase the local economy. To date, her concerts have raised in excess of $40,000, something she and her husband are vastly proud of. “Having no children of our own yet, we delight in making life better for the children of this region and improving their chances in later life.”