All set for Chibuku Road to Fame Bulawayo finals

Rutendo Kanogoiwa Showbiz Reporter
AFTER the successful hosting of the 2015 Chibuku Neshamwari Traditional dance festival last week, Bulawayo will tomorrow host the Chibuku Road to Fame provincial finals at Manor hotel.

Facebook Brothers who represented Bulawayo province at the Road to Fame national finals last year will be trying their luck again this year.

They will compete against nine other groups, United Shingbig, Voice of Glory, Kidzy’s Collection, King Lion Express, African Tribe, Dakamela Super Sounds, Amahlosi Kings Band, Unity Super Sounds, Whatsapp Signal Brothers and Makokoba Rhumba Sounds.

More entertainment will be provided by Ndux Malax Junior.

Founded in 2001, the music talent identification programme, which is in its 15th edition, will see the 10 groups performing sungura, tshibilika, afro jazz, rhumba, museve and tshova tshova music.

The group which will come out tops will walk away with a prize-money of $1,000. They will automatically be entered into the national finals in Harare.

The groups which will take second and third position will pocket $500 and $300 respectively.

Next week, the Chibuku Road to Fame provincial finals will move to Mashonaland West in Chinhoyi on August 8.

Masvingo will hold its finals on August 15 at Eden Bar followed by Matabeleland South on August 22 in Gwanda at Colleen Bawn Beerhall. Harare finals will be held in Chitungwiza on August 22 at Chibuku Stadium followed by Matabeleland North on August 29 in Hwange at Jabulani Beerhall.

The last provincial finals will be conducted in Mashonaland Central on September 5.

Delta Beverages marketing manager, Patricia Murambinda, said the group which wins the national finals at Glamis Stadium, Harare, would be awarded with a recording contract to record their first album.

“Chibuku Road to Fame seeks to promote the development of music groups through identifying groups with potential to produce recordable material.

“The competition is open only to groups that have not recorded before,” Murambinda said.

Established music superstars will perform at the national finals to support and motivate aspiring musicians. “It’ll be a busy year for Chibuku, as immediately after the Chibuku Road to Fame, the brand will be quickly moving to Bulawayo to sponsor the Chibuku Main Stage at the Intwasa Festival.”