Zim's finest concert was a thriller

Sulumani and Winky D

A massive crowd turned up at Andy Miller Hall last Friday for what was arguably one of the best-organised concerts so far this year. Aptly dubbed "Zim's Finest", the gig featured some of the most popular Zimbabwean artistes, namely Winky D, Suluman Chimbetu, Alick Macheso and Oliver Mtukudzi. 

The show climaxed when all the musicians except for Tongai Moyo, who failed to turn up, took to the stage and performed the song "Wenge Mambo" by Mtukudzi. Perhaps it was the longest played song on the night, as Winky D, Sulu and Macheso whipped their adoring fans into a frenzy. More often than not, fans would scream whenever a new act was introduced on stage and in turn the musicians did not disappoint. The Utakataka Express fronted by Peter Moyo, the son to Tongai, gave his best to fit in his father's big shoes. If it wasn't the voice not many people would have noticed that Dhewa was missing in action. From the choreography to the music, everything sounded the same or even better while Shiga Shiga revved up the audiences with his rhumba chants. 

The next act was Winky D or the Bigiman, who besides sharing the stage with a majority of sungura musicians, he pulled it through with his dancehall ditties. And whenever he takes to the stage, the Bigiman always has something new up his sleeves and this time he brought with him a lady chanter called Lipsy. 

They performed a yet-to-be-released duet that delighted a cross section of fans. Believe it or not, Winky D has endeared himself well with fans such that even the mature now appreciate his music. He singed off his act with his chart topper "Musarova Bigiman" with assistance from Sulu. Energy was high when the Orchestra Dendera Kings invaded the stage. The excitable crowd joined the group in song and dance. 

The cheers reached a crescendo when Tuku joined Sulu on the duet "Kwedu" which they effortlessly delivered. From then on, it was music and dance as Tuku with his new-look Black Spirits continued with the party. Macheso and his Orchestra Mberikwazvo made sure that their act was tight and sweet since they were the last act on the night. 

Macheso, who is also known as Extrabasso for his bass guitar skills, opened the act with a prayer and thereafter it was music galore all night long. The show was organised by Partson Chimbodza of Chipaz Promotions in conjunction with Goldtech, the providers of electrical gadgets and mobile phones.