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Showbiz Reporter
This best sums up the inaugural Bulawayo Jam Session held at Cecil Hotel in the city on Wednesday evening.
Many had doubted that local acts could attract a bumper crowd midweek and it seemed the artistes had done their homework and were out to impress and prove critics wrong. Up to 300 people packed the hotel’s conference centre, a figure way bigger than that was witnessed when crowd favourite — Judgement Yard — performed there when Private Lounge was launched.
Also to the artistes’ advantage was the fact that the musical show, meant to promote up-and-coming artistes as well as those with careers which are failing to take off, was a free event.
Initially, up to 10 artistes had been taken to Harare last month on a fact finding mission. They performed at the Harare Jam Session where they left a lasting impression. And come Wednesday, it was their time to shine and showcase what they had learnt in Harare.
Jeys Marabini, Khuliyo, Sandra Ndebele, Guluva 7 and Mzoe 7, who were among those who had toured Harare, initiated the concept here with the help of event organiser — Biggie Chinoperekwi.
The mission of the jam session is pretty simple.
Artistes need to expose themselves to a potential audience so they perform for about 20 minutes each and hand over the mic to the next artiste. The trick is to sing songs one is confident will rock the crowd in order to leave them wanting more and interested in your brand. Some like Mzoe 7, Sandra Ndebele, Asaph and Khuliyo clearly got this memo while others seemed to want to make up for all the lost time in their music career on a junior’s stage.
The most outstanding act of the night was Mzoe 7 who energised the crowd with his dance moves. He introduced his new track Chiuta which was accompanied by a unique dance. He also engaged revellers by inviting them on stage and taught them the Chiuta dance.
However, others like Donna N, who initially impressed with her soulful soothing voice, ended up doing covers of songs from South Africa hence defeating the purpose of promoting Bulawayo music.
Also, Lady Tshawe did the same, doing a cover of Mafikizolo’s tracks and Tytan and Ammara Brown’s Mukoko. The DJs did not do much to promote Bulawayo music as they preferred to play foreign music instead of promoting that of fellow artistes from the city during musical intervals.
Cameo appearances from award-winning songstress Nkwali, who sang Unyawo Lwami, Kwabatsha, who performed all-time favourite, Bhatshi, and socialite Babongile Sikhonjwa who sang Stameta were well appreciated by the crowd.
Jeys Marabini also got the crowd on its feet although his performance, especially sound check, was a bit long. He used the platform to promote Ezinyangeni, a song off his latest offering, Thula Sana.
Guest performer Willis Wataffi showed he was a seasoned act who understood that he was not the main act, but a guest. He took to the stage, performed one track — the ever popular Wanga — and left the crowd yearning for more. He was joined by long time friend, Sikhonjwa, who many wished had also been given more time during the session. After their performance, Wataffi’s band played an instrumental of Memo leaving the audience reminiscing about Africa Revenge.
Khuliyo, one of the coordinators of the event, said he was impressed by the turn out at the event, adding that more artistes had signed up for the next event.
“I didn’t expect so many people to come for the Bulawayo Jam Session. So far we’ve had over 20 artistes who want to perform in the next Jam Session which is encouraging,” said Khuliyo.
He said the next session would likely be held on August 24.
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