SOUTH African house music group, Uhuru failed to perform to the expectation of hundreds of Zimbabwean fans who thronged Glamis Arena in Harare for the much- hyped Lion Lager Summer Beer Festival on Saturday.
WINSTONE ANTONIO OWN CORRESPONDENT
Uhuru, who are famed for their hit song Y-Tjukutja, was the main act at the show that was supposed to be headlined by Jamaican singer Konshens who had to cancel the tour after the Jamaican government warned performing artistes against travelling to Africa due to Ebola — the hemorrhagic fever outbreak on the continent.
The group put up a yawn performance unlike what they did in April when they mesmerised fans at the Independence Dance Concert held at Belgravia Sports Club in the capital. This time their perfomance left a lot to be desired.
Uhuru’s poor performance once again put event organisers under attack with local fans complaining that local promoters and corporates continued to spend thousands of dollars bringing underperforming international acts.
Last year, Nigerian musician D’Banj whose real name is Dapo Daniel Oyebanjo also disappointed fans as he failed to live up to his billing at the same festival.
As what has become the norm and predictable at many gigs when Zimbabwean artistes’ share the stage with foreign acts, the day belonged to local performers who managed to thrill and left fans clamouring for more.
On several occasions foreign artistes have come and returned disappointed as their Zimbabwean counterparts’ exhibited lively sets.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
The star-studded line up of local performers had contemporary musician Jah Prayzah, Winky D, Tocky Vibes, Soul Jah Love and Shinsoman who did not disappoint as they went on to put up a sterling performances while Legendary Sound and Judgment Yard also delivered a good act on the turn tables.
All the performers were backed by a live reggae band called House of Stone.
The show was opened by Jah Prayzah with Winky D performing as a closing act.
Energetic chanter, Shinsoman had a fairly good act dressed in an academic costume (graduation gown) a sign that he described as graduating to perform at a gig of such magnitude.
Soul Jah Love did not disappoint either, putting up a well-polished act churning out hit after hit. The Ndini Uya Uya hit-maker later handed the microphone to wife Bounty Lisa who managed to keep the already set high tempo sending fans into frenzy with her powerful punchlines.
After all has been said and done, it was Winky D and Tocky Vibe’s scintillating performances that proved beyond any doubt that the duo were serious contenders in the dancehall genre with less movement of fans during their sets.
Dressed in a black vest, khaki short, a black cloth around him and leg rattles (magavhu), Tocky Vibes received a thunderous applause from the crowd as he went on stage.
He introduced some new songs that silenced fans for some moments to listen to the unfamiliar lyrics before introducing his hits which the audience sang along line-by-line.
The Amai singer’s dressing during his first set for the second time this year sent tongues wagging among fans at the show.
“A-ah hakuna dancehall artiste akadaro (That does not resemble a dancehall artiste). Apart from his lyrics, Tocky needs to improve on his dressing,” a fan said.
During his second set, Tocky was dressed in a blue suit much to the delight of the audience who were seen clapping as he demonstrated his prowess on the microphone.
As a closing act, and determined to prove his credentials as the self-styled dancehall king, Winky D, the Bhachi neJean singer’s playlist which was a mixture of both old and new tracks managed to keep fans on their feet with a well-choreographed act that was also well received by fans.
Apart from the musical extravaganza, this year drinkers had a special treat where the event organisers had reduced beer prices with draught beer being sold for $1 a litre.
The patrons also had the platform to know more about their favourite beer brands and how they were brewed from Delta Beverages Brew Masters who conducted beer tasting sessions.
