Langalakhe Mabena, [email protected]
ALL is set for the KUZANA Sport and Creative Economy Expo Zimbabwe (SCEEZ) – HKD Music Festival shutdown party, with South African amapiano star Scotts Maphuma set to headline the event at the Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre (ZIEC) Grounds in Bulawayo today.
The event, set for Hall 3, will bring together some of Zimbabwe’s leading musical acts in a celebration of local talent, while marking the conclusion of the inaugural KUZANA SCEEZ, which started running on Wednesday.
Organisers of the expo have partnered with Harris Entertainment and Chipaz Promotions to bring the festival to life, combining the business of the creative economy with live entertainment.
The show will feature Zimdancehall heavyweight Freeman HKD, who founded the HKD Music Festival, alongside fellow artistes such as Hulengende, Killer T, Bling 4, Sandra Ndebele and Kotwane Hikwa to mention a few.
Beyond the music, the festival will celebrate Freeman’s contribution to Zimbabwe’s arts scene, recognising his work in the Zimdancehall genre and his efforts to create a platform that brings local and regional musicians together.
Speaking ahead of the event, Freeman said the collaboration between Harris Entertainment and Chipaz Promotions, as well as KUZANA had made it possible to bring the festival to Bulawayo.
“The event came through Chipaz Promotions and Harris Entertainment. KUZANA organisers approached us to combine forces and do the event as a shutdown party of the exhibition. We then saw fit to combine forces and work on this much anticipated big event.
I really appreciate the opportunity to perform at the event, as the partnership with such huge names means that Zimbabwe trusts the HKD movement,” he said.
The musician said he was honoured to share the stage with Maphuma, whose popularity in the Amapiano scene has made him a major drawcard for music lovers across the region.
“I feel honoured to share the stage with Scotts Maphuma, a big artiste from South Africa and also with my fellow home artistes. I am grateful to the organisers for making this possible,” he said.
Freeman said the Bulawayo edition carried special significance, urging music lovers to turn out in numbers and support the artistes.
“This is the Bulawayo edition of the HKD Music Festival in collaboration with KUZANA, so people in the city can’t afford to miss this one. People should expect a great show and a good time. We might make history in Bulawayo, so come and witness it,” he said.
The HKD Music Festival was established in 2024 as a platform to unite emerging and established performers from across Africa, while promoting Zimbabwean music and giving fans an opportunity to experience live performances from different artistes.
Its debut edition in Harare attracted more than 5 000 people, laying the foundation for its growth. The Bulawayo show marks the festival’s first edition in the City of Kings and Queens, expanding its reach beyond the capital.
The shutdown party also comes as KUZANA SCEEZ seeks to highlight the contribution of sport and the creative industries to Zimbabwe’s economic development.
With music serving as one of the country’s most visible creative exports, the festival offers an opportunity to celebrate local performers while connecting them with regional acts.
