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Chibuku Road to Fame national finals get Adequate Sounds

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SUNGURA outfit, Adequate Sounds, booked a ticket to participate at the national finals of the annual Chibuku Road to Fame competition for the second time after overpowering eight other groups in tightly contested Harare provincial finals held at Club Manake in Ruwa on Saturday.

SUNGURA outfit, Adequate Sounds, booked a ticket to participate at the national finals of the annual Chibuku Road to Fame competition for the second time after overpowering eight other groups in tightly contested Harare provincial finals held at Club Manake in Ruwa on Saturday.

BY WINSTONE ANTONIO

Chibuku Road to Fame Harare provincial finals winners, Adequate Sounds posing for a photography on Saturday at Club Manake in Ruwa
Chibuku Road to Fame Harare provincial finals winners, Adequate Sounds posing for a photography on Saturday at Club Manake in Ruwa

The music talent showcase’s national finals, which will feature champions from the country’s 10 provinces, has been set for September 24 at Glamis Stadium in Harare.

The provincial winners will battle it out at the national finals for the main prize of $7 000 and a recording contract with the first and third runners up pocketing $5 000 and $4 000, respectively.

The talented eight-member Adequate Sounds from Budiriro last year had a good show at the national finals, where they came second after losing to the ultimate winners, Afro-jazz outfit, Black Sight from Mashonaland Central.

Formed in 2014, Adequate Sounds band garnered 149 marks ahead of Afro Jam Zim band and sungura outfit Naka Sugar Express, who amassed 146 and 140 marks to occupy second and third place respectively.

Adequate Sounds received $1 000 while, Afro Jam Zim band and Naka Sugar Express pocketed $500 and $300 for their efforts.

Speaking to NewsDay on the sidelines of the event, group leader, Tendai Gwazi said he believed their vocal ability and message in four of the songs they performed did the trick.

He said they were confident they will do well at the national finals.

“We are happy to be returning to the national finals (Chibuku Road to Fame) for the second time and we hope will shine again this year. We know there is stiff competition at the national finals, but with our hard work we are aiming for the top position,” Gwazi said.

“For us to look presentable at the finals, we are going to use part of the money to improve our outfits, while most of it will be used for rehearsals.”

Two other sungura bands, who had registered, The Motion Crew Reloaded and Nemashakwe Stars, chickened out at the eleventh hour at the competition that also featured The Great Composers (sungura/Rhumba), Jesa Band (Afro-fusion) African Rhythm Band (Afro-fusion) True Bantu Band (Afro-fusion) and Zvese Zvese Stars (sungura).

Renowned musician-cum-poet, Albert Nyathi, who was part of the judges’ panel, said some of the participating groups were strong on vocals, but not good enough on instruments, while others proved their prowess on instruments than vocals.

Sungura maestro, Alick Macheso and his Orchestra Mberikwazvo outfit serenaded guests with their sterling performance as they added flavour at the two in one event that saw lucky Chibuku driners winning cash in the Chibuku Take2 promotion final draw.

Chibuku Road to Fame music talent showcase is one of the longest running grassroots talent identification initiatives in the country, sponsored by beverages manufactures Delta Beverages, through their Chibuku brand, in partnership with the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe.