Cheso, Sulu face off

Sulumani and Macheso face off

Sungura kingpin Alick Macheso and Dendera exponent Suluman Chimbetu will finally face off at the 11th edition of the National Arts Merit Awards slated for Saturday at the 7 Arts Theatre. Music promoters had made fruitless efforts to have the two share the same stage after Macheso's three band members crossed the floor to Suluman's Orchestra Dendera Kings, brewing a storm.

Promoters who wanted to capitalise on the rift were left shell-shocked by the prices both camps were insisting on, which many believed meant that they did not want to share the stage, just yet. A promoter who requested anonymity said: "I approached the Macheso camp and they said if they were to share the stage with Suluman, they would want a flat fee of US$8 000. "When I went to Suluman's camp they also said they wanted US$2 000 more than whatever Macheso would agree to, arguing that such a show raises stakes and they had more to lose than Macheso since he had more fans. It was clear they both did not want to be put on the rating table."

However, with the coming of the Nama awards, Macheso and Suluman have been tied together in the Outstanding Musician/Group category. What makes it more interesting is that both could lose out because the other nominee - Wallace Chirumiko aka Winky D - is no pushover. As if standing between the two giants is not enough, Winky D will have to keep his fingers crossed as he is battling it out with Blessing Shumba of the Mufaro fame, as well as Suluman's Non-Stop, in the Outstanding Album category.

The award-giving ceremony will be held this coming Saturday at its traditional venue, the 7 Arts Theatre, and will witness a battle of the giants as rival artistes are vying to scoop the top award. Though other categories in Nama awards are equally important, the music category proves to be the only category that attracts a lot of interest from all corners of the country. While the musical industry has seen the influx of upcoming artistes who produce appealing music, a lot of controversy has engulfed some artistes' life, which might compromise their chances to clinch the top prize.

Desmond "Stunner" Chideme, who has had a brush with the media when his porn sex tape leaked, declares war against Charles Charamba's Nyika Zimbabwe and Sebastian Magacha's Bhosvo in the Outstanding Song category. Stunner stands in with Godo. The winner of the top prize, likely to be either Charamba or Shumba, will prove a point to the nation that he is a force to reckon with in Zimbabwe's music industry. (Herald)