The platinum selling band, The Noisettes, will play a live show at the Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA) on 2 May in Zimbabwe. The HIFA is a 6-day annual festival and workshop programme that showcases local, regional and international arts, and is now the largest cultural event in the country. The band will also be performing at Chikarubi Prison, in the country's capital, Harare, and will be leading a series of workshops with local musicians and artists.

In addition, the band's singer, Shingai Shoniwa explains, “I’m thrilled to be performing, it’s an amazing platform, and I’ve been determined to get there - all of my creative blessings as a person, and as an artist, spring from my Zimbabwean heritage.” Shingai also performed acoustically in South Africa on 26 April.

With a career that has stretched over seven years, Noisettes’ fun and playful mixture of genres has brought them hits including Never Forget You and Don’t Upset the Rhythm. Their second album Wild Young Hearts went platinum and their latest album Contact includes collaborations with musicians such as Will.i.am and Ne-Yo. Shoniwa, set to launch her solo career.

The British Council has a long history of facilitating collaborations between British and African artists. In recent years this has incorporated a performance by Mercury nominated London-based band Portico Quartet at Cape Town International Jazz Festival; as well as a residency led by UK artist Rachel Gadsden in collaboration with South Africa’s Bambanani Group as part of the Unlimited International programme celebrating arts, culture and sport by disabled and deaf people as part of London 2012.

Joel Mills, Senior Music Adviser British Council, said: ‘We’re delighted at the opportunity to support the Noisettes, one of the most exciting and dynamic UK bands to perform at Harare International Festival, and develop connections with local artists and communities.’

Looking to the future, 2014 will mark 20 years since the advent of democracy in South Africa and will herald a major strengthening of cultural ties in collaboration with South African arts and artists, in a multi-year initiative called ConnectZA.

For more information about Noisettes playing in Zimbabwe, click here.