malvernmugadzikwa
Society Reporter
THE annual Chibuku Road to Fame competition has begun.
Provincial preliminaries will be held throughout the country, with the national finals set for October 14.
This year’s edition takes a different format as it now includes new genres. Previous editions were heavily dominated by sungura and Afro-fusion.
“The provincial final competitions will be held in all the 10 provinces of Zimbabwe, with the national finals being held in Harare. Aspiring participants are required to register their bands with the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) to be able to participate in the competitions,” said the organisers.
“As Chibuku Road to Fame continues to explore and discover talent, this year’s edition will include new genres like Zimdancehall and hip-hop.”
The event has over the years grown in leaps and bounds, and is now arguably one of the country’s biggest talent search shows.
The talent identification platform allows upcoming artistes to step into stardom, as they begin their musical journey.
Since its inception in 2001, the contest has brought to the limelight several stars, among them Romeo Gasa and Tindo Ngwazo, who both walked away with the top prize in 2007 and 2016, respectively.
Like previous editions, this year’s competition has lucrative prizes on offer.
“Contestants stand a chance to win a variety of monetary prizes at both provincial and national levels, including a recording contract for the national final winner. The winners of the national final will receive US$15 000 for the first prize, US$10 000 for second prize and US$7 000 for third prize,” revealed the organisers.
The competition is running under the theme “Imba Tinzwe, Cula Sizwe Super Star!”
“The brand continues to leverage on music and dance to deliver its core purpose of nourishing the bonds of brotherhood amongst its consumers, who have a strong appreciation for music. We look forward to a thrilling journey, as the artistes begin their Road to Fame.”
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