Martin Muleya
Last weekend, Watsomba business centre in Mutasa district came alive with music and excitement as Delta Beverages’ Chibuku Neshamwari Road To Fame competition reached its provincial climax.
The event, which was held at Mandel bar, drew in crowds of music lovers and enthusiasts from all over the province.
Seven talented traditional dance groups, carefully selected from various districts in Manicaland, took to the stage to showcase their musical prowess. The competition was fierce, with each group delivering electrifying performances that left the audience clamoring for more.
The seven groups comprised of ASG Amazing Stars (traditional music), Macca (traditional folk and dance), True victory (traditional and reggae dance hall), Kumanika Makomo power band (gospel music), Vibrand band (afrofusion), Usatya band (mbira traditional) and Mutare super stars (sungura music).
The first prize of US$2 500 went to Vibrand Brand from Mutare, who mesmerized the crowd with their afrofusion music and captivating stage presence. Mutare Super Stars came second (US$2 000) from Mutare rural, who delivered a spirited sungura performance that kept the crowd on their feet.
ASG Amazing Stars from Nyanga (US$1 500) took home the third prize with their unique blend of traditional music.
National Arts Council of Zimbabwe, Manicaland provincial manager Caroline Makoni in an interview with The Midweek Watch commended the performance of the provincial finalists.
“We had a mixed bag of performances. Some of the groups were good whilst some need to improve their act. We hope this time around Manicaland is going to win at the national finals,” commented Makoni.
The national finals will be held on the 9th of November in Harare.
The Chibuku Neshamwari Road to Fame was a resounding success, showcasing the rich musical talent in the province and the power of music to unite and inspire communities. The competition continues to be a platform for emerging artists to shine and make their mark on Zimbabwe’s music scene.
