Tafadzwa Zimoyo
Zimpapers Entertainment Editor
CONGOLESE music star Awilo Longomba jets into Zimbabwe today while Jamaican dancehall heavyweight Beenie Man follows tomorrow as international stars gather for the Kadoma Music Festival.
Awilo’s arrival today, and Beenie Man’s scheduled tomorrow, is expected to boost excitement around the festival set for the weekend at The Odyssey in Kadoma.
Members of Beenie Man’s band have already arrived in the country.
The festival will bring together two major international acts on one stage with Awilo bringing his trademark Congolese sound while Beenie Man comes with a catalogue that has made him one of dancehall’s enduring global names.
They will be joined by some of Zimbabwe’s biggest acts, including Winky D, Alick Macheso, Feli Nandi, Selmor Mtukudzi, Sulumani Chimbetu, Baba Harare and ma-of-the-moment Jnr Spragga.
The organisers said the staggered arrival of the international stars was part of the careful preparations for the event.
“We are excited to have the international artists coming in.
“Awilo arrives tomorrow (today), while Beenie Man is expected on Friday and members of Beenie’s band are already here,” said one off the organisers.
“Our focus now is on making sure that everything is ready on the technical and production side so that the artists can concentrate on giving the audience a great show.”
The festival is celebrating its fifth edition, having grown from a local entertainment event into a platform capable of attracting major international names.
For the organisers, the milestone is particularly significant because it demonstrates that major music festivals do not have to be confined to Harare.
“When we started, our vision was to put Kadoma on the entertainment map,” said one of the organisers.
“Five editions later, we are bringing artists of the calibre of Awilo Longomba and Beenie Man to the city.
“That tells you how much the festival has grown. We want Kadoma to become a destination where people know they can come and experience big entertainment.”
The festival’s diverse line-up is also expected to draw fans from different generations, with international dancehall and African rhythms sharing the stage with Zimbabwean sungura, urban grooves and contemporary sounds.
“We wanted to create a line-up that speaks to everyone,” the organiser said.
“Awilo has a massive following across Africa, Beenie Man brings the dancehall audience, while our local artists bring the Zimbabwean flavour.
“We believe that combination makes the festival special.”
The organisers are also looking beyond the music itself, with the event expected to benefit businesses in and around Kadoma.
Visitors travelling into the city are expected to use hotels, restaurants, transport services and other businesses, while vendors and event workers will also benefit from the festival.
“Festivals are no longer just about music. They contribute to the local economy.
“When people travel to Kadoma, they spend money in the city and create business for many people.
“We want the community to see the festival as something that contributes to the growth of Kadoma.”
The fifth edition also reflects the organisers’ ambitions to establish the festival as a major fixture on Zimbabwe’s entertainment calendar.
The arrival of Awilo today is expected to kick-start the final phase of the build-up, while Beenie Man’s arrival tomorrow will further fuel anticipation ahead of Saturday’s festival.
With two international stars, a strong Zimbabwean supporting cast and five years of festival history behind it, Kadoma is preparing for a weekend where dancehall, sungura and African rhythms meet on one stage.
