SA Zahara hails Zim showbiz

Zahara

South African sensation Bulelewa Mkutukana, popularly known as Zahara, has hailed Zimbabwean showbiz. This comes after what she called a splendid show by any standards last Friday at Harare International Conference Centre (HICC).

In an interview after the show, her manager Tehny Tshabalala said Zahara was impressed. “The show in Harare is one of the best organised shows that we have performed at. “The turnout was good and everything was done professionally,” said Tshabalala.“Personally, I did not get the chance to watch all the acts perform, but I must mention that I was enticed by Hope Masike. 

“She was just awesome and she set the pace for everyone else.” Asked about the show in Bulawayo, Tshabalala promised fireworks. “If the show on Sunday is going to be handled as professionally as the first one then it will have completed a splendid tour,” he said. The maiden show lived up its billing last Friday as thousands thronged the HICC. 

Dubbed The Feel Good Concert, the show was well received leaving many who were initially doubtful awestruck.The supporting acts that comprised Hope Masike, Diana Samkange, Prudence Katomeni-Mbofana, Victor Kunonga, Willis Wataffi and Chiwoniso Maraire seemed to have come out to prove a point.

They presented such flawless acts that even May 7 Entertainment, Zahara’s managers, conceded that it was high time that Zimbabwean promoters began thinking beyond the so-called top four or five. “It is normally an Oliver Mtukudzi, Alick Macheso and Sulumani Chimbetu affair, but there are also more great artists in our land,” said Max Mugaba of May 7 Entertainment.

“I think it is high time that promoters started thinking outside the box and tried to cater for diverse audiences.”  Considering the types of artists that have flocked Zimbabwe over the past three years and their genres of music, only danceable music has been marketable. The Zahara tour, however, seems to have made inroads and reassured music lovers that all genres still have relevance.

Furthermore, this show seems to demystify the usually dreaded music promotion business. After the late Tendai Prince Mupfurutsa’s hefty losses at the Akon and Sean Paul gig, numerous promoters have taken cautious approaches to the hosting of international artists. 

The other fact is to avoid a situation where there is an overdose of reggae and looking closer to Zimbabwean borders makes the job a lot easier. Besides, there will be no high budgets that often leave promoters reeling from losses. (Dailynews)