adminBongani Ndlovu Showbiz Correspondent
TWELVE Harvest House International Church (HHIC) choirs are set to converge in Bulawayo for a “Clash of Hub Choirs” competition taking place at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) grounds on August 30 with $50,000 up for grabs.
The choirs, drawn from different parts of Zimbabwe, South Africa, Botswana and Namibia, will sing their hearts out at ZITF Hall 4.
Now in its second edition, this year’s prize money has been increased from last year’s $10,000 for the first prize. The group which will take second position will bag $20,000 up from 5,000. Third prize has been increased to $10,000 from $2,500. Tickets to the competition are already on sale at HHIC premises in Bulawayo starting from $5.
The choirs will be judged by Joyous Celebration co-founder Lindelani Mkhize, Zimbabwe gospel musician Pastor Charles Charamba and Rachel Chigwada.
“The judges will be looking at stage presence, balance and blending, choreography, uniforms and grooming, originality and choir size. Mkhize trained all hub choirs on vocals, presentation and other important aspects of developing a winning choir last month,” said HHIC public relations and marketing officer, Philip Phiri.
He said the choirs are already in Bulawayo, rehearsing for the final night.
Last year’s competition was won by Harvest Tarbenacle Choir who narrowly beat Harvest Aflame and Masvingo Hub Choir.
The Clash of the Hub Choirs is part of the HHIC annual Prophetic and Apostolic Conference taking place at the church premises in Bulawayo from August 24. The conference will run under the “Dynamic Leadership” theme with speakers, Bishop Dag Heward Mills, Bishop Musa Sono, Bishop EAT Sackey and Bishop Chiwaka among others expected to minister.
Gospel musician Takesure Zamah Ncube is one of the artistes who will perform during the conference.
Zamah Ncube of the Kuregerera in Advance fame is an acclaimed gospel artiste who worked with Joyous Celebration on their 19th album.
He has a number of tracks topping the charts in Zimbabwe with his group Worship Addicts.
Londile Moyo
Bongani Ndlovu