Online Reporter
Tafadzwa Zimoyo recently in BULAWAYO
IT was a very cold night in the City of Kings and Queens but the brutal elements never stood a chance of spoiling the fun on Africa Day on Monday.
The estimated 15,000 worshippers danced, sang and praised like people possessed by joy itself at the Ekhaya Worship Festival at Hartfield Stadium.
Despite the chilly weather which swept across the City of Kings and Queens, thousands poured into the stadium wrapped in jackets, scarves and blankets.
But the freezing temperatures were no match for the spiritual fire inside Hartfield.
What unfolded was not just another gospel concert but a history-making spectacle that shattered records to become one of the biggest gospel gatherings Zimbabwe has ever witnessed.
And what a statement it was.
The bold move from the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair grounds to Hartfield had initially raised eyebrows.
Critics wondered whether gospel music could truly command stadium-sized crowds.
By sunset, the answer was screaming from every packed terrace.
People came in numbers.
Cars clogged roads leading to the venue while queues stretched endlessly outside the gates as believers rushed to secure spots inside the overflowing stadium. Yet remarkably, the cold became part of the magic. As worship songs echoed through the night sky, bodies moved endlessly to keep warm.
Soon, dancing replaced shivering.
Praise replaced discomfort. Worship became the heater. The crowd simply refused to feel cold.
From elderly church mothers to energetic youths, everybody moved rhythmically under the floodlights as Hartfield transformed into one giant open-air praise party.
Before the music programme even began, organisers introduced one of the festival’s latest additions — a Health Expo held during the afternoon.
Medical experts offered health screenings, wellness advice and consultations in a rare blend of spirituality and community care.
The initiative gave Ekhaya Worship Festival a deeper social heartbeat.
This year’s edition also stood out for giving upcoming gospel artists a rare opportunity to shine on the same stage with established stars.
Unlike many major events, where emerging talent is often sidelined, the festival opened its arms to rising voices. The result was a refreshing mix of youthful energy and seasoned excellence.
Top gospel acts like The Unveiled, Joyful Praise Choir, Zimpraise, Vocal Ex, Lorraine Maplanka, Takesure Zamar, Blessing Jeduthun and South African star Dumi Mkokstad kept the worship fire burning throughout the evening.
Then came the moment everybody had been waiting for. When Everton Mlalazi finally stepped onto the stage, Hartfield erupted into deafening cheers. The gospel star first treated fans to several of his popular songs. Fans lit up the stadium with cellphone torches while family members joined in singing.
Mlalazi then switched into high-tempo praise songs that transformed Hartfield into a giant dance floor. Worshippers jumped, ululated and sang at the top of their voices as the Ekhaya spirit swept through the venue.
The climax came when Mlalazi assembled a mass choir featuring Joyful Praise, The Unveiled and Vocal Ex for powerful renditions of “Tiri Vana vaMambo” and “Nomakujeni.”
It was electric. The harmonies shook the stadium. “Ekhaya is at the centre of my heart,” Mlalazi said. “Seeing people gather like this to worship is something I will never take for granted.”
He also shared a touching testimony involving his son and a miracle his family experienced, leaving many in the crowd visibly moved.
Closing the night in explosive fashion was Joyful Praise, whose scintillating set sent fans into one final frenzy with crowd favourites including “Ngaibve Mumoyo,” “Takaedza,” “Unogochemei” and “Jehovah Wee Makanaka.” By then, nobody cared about the cold anymore.
The dances had defeated winter.
And, as thousands slowly walked out of Hartfield after midnight, exhausted but spiritually recharged, one thing was crystal clear: this had been a magical night.
