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Zim band to represent Africa

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A six-member Chitungwiza band, Jesa, will represent Africa at this year’s edition of the Imagine International Festival to be held on June 26 in Brussels, Belgium.

BY ENTERTAINMENT REPORTER

A six-member Chitungwiza band, Jesa, will represent Africa at this year’s edition of the Imagine International Festival to be held on June 26 in Brussels, Belgium.

The band emerged top after beating 10 other groups from across the country at the Imagine Zimbabwe Festival national level competitions held in Harare by Music Crossroads Zimbabwe last week.

Zimbabwe is the only African country participating at this year’s edition of the festival.

The group’s spokesperson, Kudakwashe Kanyerere, said they were overwhelmed to emerge victors having faced stiff competition from other groups.

“It was our first concert after assembling our group early this year and we are happy that we managed to win and will be representing our nation and continent in Belgium,” Kanyerere said.

“We have already started preparing for the festival and we are confident that will make our nation and continent proud.”

Music Crossroads Zimbabwe Trust director Melody Zambuko said this year competition was stiff.

“The entrants at this year’s competition were amazing. The festival has grown into a unique development and exchange platform for young musicians and continues to expand,” Zambuko said.

This is not the first time for Zimbabwe to participate at the Imagine International Festival.

In 2013, another Chitungwiza-based Afro-fusion band, Were, were crowned the champions in Kristiansand, Norway.

They toured Europe for two months.

Imagine Zimbabwe is the all-styles music competition for young artistes that promotes musical quality, originality, diversity and creativity.

The competition creates a unique platform for young musicians to gain professional experience in a positive environment that enables them to develop their musical careers, self-confidence and understanding of different peoples and cultures.

Competitions are held annually on a national scale in Belgium, Croatia, France, Malawi, Norway, Slovenia, Sweden and Zimbabwe and culminate each year with the Imagine International Festival.

The music competition is open to young people aged between 12 and 20.

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