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The live recording will start at 2pm under the banner “It’s all About Jesus”.
Last year the DVD recording was sold out and this time around organisers are expecting an overflow.
Joseph Madziyire, who is the chief executive as well as one of the producers of the choir, confirmed all was set for the concert.
“We are delighted to be bringing this live DVD recording on July 27 at HICC. The DVD comes at a time when we are taking the gospel back to basics. Nowadays people have been exalting their names instead of Jesus and taking gospel as business. But the Holy Bible says that seek ye first the Kingdom of God and now we want to raise the banner of Jesus.
“So everything has to be about Jesus and for Jesus. It is one of the most anticipated DVD launches since we invited all the bishops and prophets from Dr Aspher Madziyire, Dr Goodwill Shana to famed Prophets Emmanuel Makandiwa, Uebert Angel and Passion, they are all going to attend the event.
“As ZimPraise we are taking the gospel to a new level and the emphasis is all about exalting Jesus’ name. It’s not about me nor any other individual but Jesus. We are also hoping that the peace that is prevailing in the country will continue even after the elections,” Madziyire said.
He said a stellar line-up of performing artistes among them Matthias Mhere, Tembelami, Sabastian Magacha, Takesure and the Worship Addicts, Pastor G, Comfort Manyami as well as Kudzai Sevenzo.
The must-attend gig will see Sabastian sampling tracks from his latest fifth album titled “Back to Sender”. The album features hit songs “Back to Sender”, “Tinoenda Kure” and “Herudhe”.
Co-produced by McDonald Chidavaenzi popularly known as McDee and Madziyire, the album talks about people who wish others bad luck. According to the title track Sabastian says it’s high time those people taste their own medicine.
He mentions evil things like sickness, barrenness, bad omens and even death to go back to those who would have sent them.
Another heavy hitter at the show will be Pastor G who was born Stanley Gwanzura. Pastor G is credited for bringing urban flair to Zimbabwean gospel with finesse. The heavily built singer always defies his stature when he takes to stage.
Besides his riveting moves on the dance floor, he also generates a lot of heat on stage.
Also making a welcome return to stage after taking a sabbatical is songstress Kudzai Sevenzo. She is expected to bring her magic on stage and delight audiences with her soulful voice. Wow! Talk about resonance, the sister has got it under wraps.
In live performances, Kudzai belts it out like it should be and the audience goes wild.
This young girl has it all – and it shows! She puts it on the line and finishes with a standing ovation. She is taking the world by storm. She is indeed a powerhouse of a voice.
Extremely talented, performing artiste, voice-over artiste, singer, songwriter, actress, African Movie Academy Awards nominee, National Arts Merits Awards nominee, NEA nominee, M-Net’s Project Fame contestant, M-Net’s Studio 53 presenter and Zi-FM radio presenter, Kudzai has all the accolades only a few people can dream about.
The list is endless and it is beyond the capacity of many awarders of merit to acknowledge such great talent. Despite this massive talent, she remains a very humble lady.
Kudzai attended Courteney Selous Primary School in Greendale, Harare, at the age of six.
She did not tell us exactly when in case we start guessing her age, which is a well-kept secret. She then moved on to Chisipite Senior School where she studied French and English Literature, before going on to study to become a travel consultant. She found travel agency work boring when she discovered that it did not involve a lot of travelling.
It was after this course that she decided to try her hand in music after being inspired by the likes of Oliver Mtukudzi, Brenda Fassie, Miriam Makeba, Lucky Dube, Judith Sephuma, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Salif Keita, Mike and the Mechanics, Earth, Wind and Fire and Lebo to name a few. After talking to Biddy Partridge, Nigel and Penny Yon, she was introduced to the group Mhepo Jazz Band and soon became a member.
After a while, she became bored with the band and once again went back into travel industry as a travel consultant. It was in 2004, that she got wind of auditions for an M-Net talent show called Project Fame. She went for the audition, was flown to South Africa and made it to the penultimate round.
Unfortunately, despite her massive talent, she did not make it and lost out on the
R900 000 big prize money and a music contract.
During her stint at Project Fame, she got to meet some musical greats in the industry such as Ringo Madlingozi, Chaka Chaka and Sephuma.
Failure in the Project Fame project did not deter Kudzai. She soon returned to Zimbabwe and released her first album “On A Day Like This”, which was well received nationally and internationally.
A few years later, she landed a role on M-Net’s Studio 53 as the show’s presenter. It was during this stint that she travelled extensively within the African continent and got to dine and meet with the likes of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the President of Liberia. While having breakfast together, they talked business and Kudzai spelt out her future plans and ambitions to the president.
She returned to Zimbabwe and released her second album “Child of Africa’” which also included a duet with Mtukudzi.
Apart from musical projects Kudzai has been involved in films and acting. Last year she was up for an award at the Africa Movie Academy Awards in Lagos, Nigeria. The singer-actress was nominated in the Best Actress category for her role in “Playing Warriors”, a Zimbabwean feature film.
Mhere is another artiste who will spice up the gig with his smooth sing-along songs like “Favour” and “Chipositora”. The DVD live recording promises nothing but the best in Zimbabwean gospel and if there is only one gig you won’t miss this year this got to be the one.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter