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Bongani Ndlovu Showbiz Correspondent
THE year comes to an end tomorrow. It was an eventful showbiz scene this year with many making the news for the right and wrong reasons, some being news makers and others noise makers.
NEWSMAKERS
Jah Prayzah
The year 2015 belonged to the contemporary musician, as he made headlines for mostly good things. His album Jerusarema topped the charts and his shows always recorded full houses. However he was in the Press for the wrong reasons after suspicious pictures of him cuddling with former Zifa CEO Henrietta Rushwaya. Obviously Jah Prayzah refuted the allegations of a romance saying they were just business partners.
Toni Braxton and Babyface show in Zimbabwe
The R&B couple made their way to Zimbabwe for a show in Harare at Borrowdale Racecourse. The highly anticipated show was one that attracted a lot of interest from people who grew up listening to their hits in the 90s.
Mr Ugly
Maison Sere who was crowned Mr Ugly in Harare, was said to be too handsome by three-time winner William Masvinu who accused judges of bias. The pageant drew attention from international media.
Bongani Dhlakama
The former Miss Zimbabwe was involved in a war of words with her fiance’s ex, who claimed that she ruined her marriage, labelling her a man-snatcher. The issue went to court.
Miss Zimbabwe
A dethronement like last year happened after winner Emily Kachote was said to have nude pictures circulating on social media. Her first princess Annie-Grace Mutambu took over.
Tin Tin
The Radio and television personality gave birth to a baby boy. She and the father of the baby Virimai Chigariro named him Yambuko Nokutendaishe, which means crossing over with the grace of God.
The conception and birth by Tin Tin was a miracle as she had been told by doctors that she could not conceive due to endometriosis, a gynaecological condition that causes cells from the uterine lining to flourish outside the uterine cavity, causing one to be infertile.
Sandra Ndebele-Sibindi
Sandy as she is known began the year with a bang, as she launched her album Izenzo at a colourful and glamorous event at the Bulawayo Large City Hall. No artiste in the last decade from the city has launched an album with such strong support from the corporates.
Later on in the year a heavily pregnant Sandy caused the delay of a flight from Harare because she did not have the necessary doctor’s documents to travel.
Eventually she gave birth to a baby girl she and her husband named Zinhle.
Cal_Vin
The Bulawayo born hip hop sensation began the year without a music video to his name. It was only after the intervention of Vault Cosmetics that he shot his first music video Zikhuphan’ after the founder of the cosmetics range fell in love with the track.
As if this wasn’t enough South Africa’s hip hop artiste Cassper Nyovest also loved the track and the duo ended up collaborating on a remix of it. After releasing his album Year of the Vin, Cal_Vin scooped three gongs at the Zimbabwe Hip hop Awards, namely album of the year, Song of the Year and Male artiste of the Year.
Killer T
In terms of Zimdancehall Killer T took over from Tockey Vibes with his hit single Ngoma Ndoimba which was a club banger for most of the year.
However, the year was blotted by the news that his girlfriend Mitchell Kambanga died in a car crash in Harare. He later on denied that they were dating.
Rumbidzai “ News Bae” Takawira
For some of those who watch ZBCtv News Hour they fell in love with the news anchor Takawira who they fondly nick named News Bae. Her eloquent way of reading news and beauty had brought back some who had vowed to never watch the national broadcaster.
Then she got fired along with 300 of her colleagues. This led to concerted lobbying for her reinstatement on social media. A week after getting fired she was brought back on the news, much to the excitement of her followers.
YA FM
The Zvishavane-based radio station was granted a radio licence by the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe at the beginning of the year and in September started to broadcast.
Everything was smooth sailing at first, and the mining town’s community was happy to have their own station.
However, a troop of baboons struck the radio station twice, first they chewed part of the transmission cables, forcing producers to abort programming for an hour. Secondly they raided the house occupied by the station’s general manager – Davies Mugadza and chief consultant – Zenzele Ndebele.
Kalawa Homecoming Party
Thousands attended the annual event on Sunday in Bulawayo which had a star studded line up of Cassper Nyovest, AKA, Mafikizolo, Durban Nyts, DJs Bobstar, Tira, Fresh, Tony digital and Oskido. Revellers danced themselves to a standstill until daybreak, with most making their way home at 7AM.
Hartsfield Tshisa Nyama
The joint was the nerve centre of Bulawayo entertainment. People would hang out there on weekends and three major shows were held at the joint. Cassper Nyovest was the first to make an appearance for his debut at a Bulawayo show that included Winky D, DJ Stavo, Djembe Monks and Cal_Vin. Next was South Africa’s Black Motion show that had thousands who came to party. Black coffee’s show last week also recorded a high turnout.
Intwasa Arts Festival koBulawayo and iFEst
The two festivals brought a bit of life to the sleepy entertainment scene in Bulawayo. They are a must attend for any arts enthusiast. However, organisers should do more to market the festival so that more people attend and corporates should make an effort sponsoring local and international acts.
NOISEMAKERS
Alick Macheso
The year has ended and Extra Basso’s album is yet to be launched. He has been saying from the beginning of the year that the album will be ready in four months time, but nothing has materialised. He has since said it will be released next year! We’ll not hold our breath.
Babongile Sikhonjwa
The Bulawayo comedian made sensational claims that he had bought a $30,000 limousine. Thereafter debt collectors came knocking at his door only to reveal that the limo was actually not his but a friend’s that he had borrowed to make money off during the festive season.
Skyz Metro FM, Breeze FM, Hevhoi and Faya FM
All these commercial radio stations haven’t launched despite promises, a series of auditions, short listings and the like. Maybe next year they will (do so) as government statutes state they should do so in 18 months of the issue of their respective licences.
Cyclone Ree
After a sizzling topless photo of her in our sister paper B-Metro with her saying she was venturing into deejaying, the former Miss Personality hasn’t lived up to the hype. Even her debut DJ set at Club Eden in Bulawayo couldn’t jumpstart her career.
Ziyanda (The movie )
The movie about human trafficking that was supposed to feature South Africa’s Katlego Danke popularly known as Dineo from Generations, failed to take off. A lot of noise was made at the beginning of the year and now, it’s all quiet.
Briss Mbada
Despite jumping on stage at the Zim Hip Hop awards to express his unhappiness over Cal_Vin’s Male artiste of the Year Award, it’s still not known who he is.
2015 TRAGEDIES
Xenophobic attacks in South Africa
Durban-based kwaito group Big Nuzz cancelled their show in Bulawayo because of the attacks on foreign nationals in their home city. Some people in Zimbabwe were calling for the boycott of South African music shows. Cassper Nyovest decided to fulfil his gig in Bulawayo.
Kiki Divaris
Veteran modelling mentor, philanthropist and Zanu-PF member, Kiki Divaris died at the age of 92 this year and was declared a liberation heroine. Her death rocked the modelling industry after being a part of it for more than 30 years.
David Masondo
The Soul Brother’s lead singer’s death was a sad chapter in the group’s illustrious career. Zimbabwean fans had hoped that this festive season the group would perform in Bulawayo.
Daiton Somanje
The Tsaona hit-maker, died at the age of 47, after allegedly succumbing to suspected meningitis at the Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare.
Emmanuel “Manue” Dlamini
The former Iyasa performing artiste collapsed and died in South Africa. It was not determined what caused his death and his body was repatriated back to Zimbabwe for burial.
Nelsy Ncube
Wife of comedian Carl Joshua Ncube suffered a miscarriage, dashing hopes for the couple of having a first child.
MARRIAGES
Urban grooves musician Trevor Dongo married his beautiful girlfriend Ashley Maumbe.
Africa Revenge founder Mehluli “Tazz” Moyo tied the knot with Farai Mapupu.
Gospel musician Takesure Zamar of the Joyous Celebration fame, got married to Kudzai Marova.
Socialites Elikem and Pokello also got married.
Online Reporter