Netherlands-based young mbira artiste Vimbai Zimuto will launch her second album Kure Kwemeso at the Book Café on Thursday.

Vimbai's 14-year history in music includes participation in Zimbabwe Music Crossroads, Pamberi Trust's Flame Literary Arts and Music Enterprise (Flame) and a three-year stint as backing vocalist for music superstar Oliver Mtukudzi.

On the new album Vimbai is supported by gifted young recording musicians who include Zealman Munengu, Freedom Manatsa (drums), Chris Fefini (keyboards), Pablo Nakapa (guitar), Clive Mono Mukundu (guitar), Solo Sunguro (bass and vocals) and Chalene Firey (backing vocals).

The rising artiste is delighted to have been nurtured by Sistaz Open Mic, a platform for emerging Zimbabwean women artistes which is bankrolled by Pamberi Trust.

"It was a fruitful experience and very valuable.  That is where I met the promoter for my first album. It was a good platform to meet people, to establish myself as a professional musician," she said.

"I also met different leading musicians that had influence on my growth as a female mbira artiste, because they were very few at the time I started.

"Women were not really dominant in the genre, but Sistaz Open Mic gave me the chance to communicate one-on-one with professional women in the music industry and understand how to grow from there."

After establishing links in Europe during a three-month tour with 'Daughters of Africa'- a collaboration of 12 women from eight African countries in 2010 - she relocated to the Netherlands where she is now based in Zealand.

In the Netherlands the mbira-playing Vimbai is part of a group of five musicians from five different countries called Vimbai and Makali Sounds which has dazzled audiences in the Netherlands and Belgium.

Among many-high profile performances, early this month Vimbai performed for the Queen of Belgium at the Bozar Theatre in the Brussels.

The artiste is grateful to many established musicians who have contributed to her success.

"The Lord has been faithful to me all the years of my life.  This is my second offering to the world.  After working with my first music teacher Emmanuel Mujuru, followed by deep learning experiences with Oliver Mtukudzi , the late Sam Mtukudzi and Chiwoniso Maraire, ZOMA  Swing, Zeekoraal (Martha Roelofs), Makali Sounds, and all the important people that are not mentioned here - I am so grateful for all the lessons and friendships learnt and built," she said.

Vimbai's second album has been made possible with support from Africalia (Belgium), Stichting Welzijn (Oostburg) and Monolio Studios (Harare).