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NewsDay

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Kirk Franklin to perform in Harare

Life & Style
United States multi- award winning and contemporary gospel icon, Kirk Franklin, is expected in Zimbabwe on Tuesday for a show at the Harare International Conference Centre (HICC) on the same day. In an interview with NewsDay, Ireland’s premier gospel resource BB Music, organisers of the show said: “Franklin will jet into the country on Tuesday […]

United States multi- award winning and contemporary gospel icon, Kirk Franklin, is expected in Zimbabwe on Tuesday for a show at the Harare International Conference Centre (HICC) on the same day.

In an interview with NewsDay, Ireland’s premier gospel resource BB Music, organisers of the show said: “Franklin will jet into the country on Tuesday morning and there is a line-up of activities he is set to engage in when he arrives.

“He will visit one of the orphanage homes in Harare and then perform at HICC in the evening. Kirk gives his best at each event; it will be entertaining and refreshing. We are sure he will give out something good for the fans.”

Franklin will jet in with a 15-member band. Percy Gorejena of BB Music said the show was part of the musician’s African tour.

“Before performing in Zimbabwe Franklin will on Friday (today) perform in Nigeria and on Monday he has a show in Zambia,” said Gorejena.

The musician who launched his 11th album, Hello Fear in March, is set to wow Zimbabwean music lovers with a brand of funky and inspiring gospel rhythms. Since 1992 Franklin has helped bring gospel music into the mainstream winning seven Grammies, nine Dove Awards, four Stellar Awards, two BET Awards and one American Music Award.

Franklin is famed for high-powered danceable praise and worship tunes and is also a leader of a 17-member praise and worship choir called The Family.

The gospel giant’s music has been an inspiration to a new generation of performers across the globe.

His success reflects the growth in interest and participation in gospel music, the explosion of gospel choirs across Ireland, many of whom perform his work. As a mainstream artist, Franklin is well known outside the gospel circles with hits like Lovely Day – his hip-hop take on the Bill Withers classic – and You Can Lean on Me done with Mary J Blige, Bono and Crystal Lewis.

“Franklin’s concert in Harare is arguably one of the long overdue visits from one of America’s biggest contemporary hip-hop artists. On the other hand it’s a gospel event that will bring together people from all walks of life,” reads a statement from BB Music.

“The guy is a walking revival. Like everywhere he has been for the first time, people talk about it for a long time. If you go there you will never ever forget the experience. Jesus will be glorified. For those involved testimonies will flow. It’s not easy doing a Franklin event for the first time, but when you do, it is groundbreaking.”

The world’s biggest selling urban gospel artist is sure to fill HICC with anointed praise and worship.