×
NewsDay

AMH is an independent media house free from political ties or outside influence. We have four newspapers: The Zimbabwe Independent, a business weekly published every Friday, The Standard, a weekly published every Sunday, and Southern and NewsDay, our daily newspapers. Each has an online edition.

Mafikizolo ushers in the Lockdown

News
IT is the big one today with South African duo Mafikizolo gracing our shores once more.

IT is the big one today with South African duo Mafikizolo gracing our shores once more.

SILENCE CHARUMBIRA ENTERTAINMENT REPORTER

The group by any measure is one of the most revered in Mzansi and it sure will be prudent not to miss the affair at the Harare International Conference Centre (HICC).

Interestingly, the show presents the man of the moment Tocky Vibes whose inclusion on the line-up further affirms the grip of Zimdancehall at the helm of Zimbabwean music.

It can only be an endorsement that he will be performing alongside Oliver Mtukudzi, the granddad of Zimbabwean music as well as one of the most respected artistes in Africa.

The Mafikizolo factor of course aids his popularity as he gets to perform in front of a new audience all together.

Last, but not least, on the line-up is Alexio Kawara, another great musician.

Having made his name in the ear of urban groovers, Kawara had already shown traits of greatness in him.

His compositions carried a rare depth as compared to those of his peers.

His hits Shaina and the album Tose sealed it for him as he has remained at the top.

A road traffic accident that broke his leg last year nearly threatened his stage work, but he has soldiered on and recently signalled his intention to break into the regional and international market.

That the show will be at the HICC in this rainy season may have already sealed the fate of the gig as a potential success as many revellers do not have to drive an extra distance from the central business district on the poor Harare roads in the rains. And of course that it is a spacious closed venue, it is bound to win many hearts.

The competition will be posed, however, by the Dancehall Shutdown Gig at the City Sports Centre; barely a kilometre from the HICC. It sure will be a threat as the pricing of the gig $5 wins it against the $10, $15, $20 and $25 charged at the Lockdown Gig.

Show organiser Simmad yesterday allayed the fears and said the show at the HICC is five-star and there is no competition.

“This is for a different clientele. We are looking for a mature and upmarket crowd. The venue is five star and the line-up is also five star so we are looking for the five-star audience too,” said Simmad.

Tuku’s manager Sam Mataure yesterday said his camp is looking forward to a good show.

“We are looking forward to a good show. We are going to have a very full band and we will be singing Zimbabwe a Merry Christmas,” said Mataure.

Tocky Vibes’ manager Elvis Bokosha said the show tomorrow will not be anything new.

“We are looking forward to the show tomorrow. It is really nothing new as we have performed alongside a South African outfit before after Uhuru earlier this year, but we promise a good show,” he said.