Online Reporter
Langalakhe Mabena, Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
EVER been to an event so good, so polished, so spiritually moving that you found yourself thinking, “Surely, I should have paid for this?” That was the vibe radiating from the Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre Hall 3 in Bulawayo last Sunday, as the inaugural Ekhaya Worship Festival left hearts full, feet tired from dancing and everyone already marking their calendars for next year.
Yes, you read right, before the echo of the final amen even faded, organisers had already locked in the date for next year’s edition: May 24. That’s how confident they were in what they had pulled off. And rightly so!
An initiative spearheaded by none other than gospel heavyweight Everton Mlalazi, the festival was a grand gathering of musical anointing and spiritual connection. Picture this: a powerhouse line-up featuring industry giants like South African maestro Omega Khunou, the ever-energetic Canaan Nyathi, the soulful Reality 7, melodic worship leader Takesure Zamar Ncube, the vibrant Sbu Noah, internationally acclaimed Mkhululi Bhebhe and the rich harmonies of Once More Six.
And that’s not even the whole gospel gang. Local gospel flavour came in strong with artistes like Vocal Ex, the talented Sipho “Snowy” Ncube, worship dynamo Mai Mwamuka and the smooth-voiced Kelvin Mangena among others.
The crowd? Electrified. From the opening note to the final benediction, the audience was on their feet, praising, worshipping, singing along, dancing and genuinely basking in the presence of God. The kind of turnout and energy that had people whispering to each other, “Honestly, I’d pay to come back next year.”
And what did the artistes think? Well, the feedback backstage was unanimous: Ekhaya is the beginning of something truly divine for Bulawayo.
Take Omega Khunou, for instance, a senior member of South Africa’s renowned Spirit of Praise ensemble. He described his experience as “life changing”, clearly moved by the warm reception.
“When my name was called, the way people screamed was surreal. I performed Takakunda in Shona, a deep song and the crowd sang with me. Not in English, mind you, but in native tongues. I felt right at home! Big up to my brother Everton for organising a world-standard event. I’m definitely coming back!”
Meanwhile, Canaan Nyathi brought the fire, quite literally. His set was electric. So much so that he leapt off the stage mid-performance to sing and dance with the crowd.
“I always bring the fire. But Ekhaya was on another level. The crowd’s energy was unmatched. I just had to join them, it became one big worship party!”
For Mkhululi Bhebhe, it was a homecoming of the heart. Now based in the UK, he spoke emotionally about being back in Zimbabwe, performing alongside his former group, Vocal Ex.
“It was sentimental and uplifting. Sharing the stage with familiar faces reminded me of why I do this. Huge props to Everton for such a God-led vision.”
South African songbird Sbu Noah, part of the legendary Joyous Celebration, was taken aback by how well his music was received.
“To hear Zimbabweans sing along to my songs so fluently? I was floored. It reminded me never to underestimate how far our music travels. And the band, the sound, the backing vocalists, everything was top-notch. Zimbabwe, you’ve won my heart!”
Then there was Fisani Masinga, lead singer of the acapella-meets-private school Imbube group Reality 7. The group’s set was one of the day’s showstoppers and Masinga loved every second.
“Coming from KwaZulu-Natal and finding people in Bulawayo speaking our language, Zulu, made us feel instantly at home. The chemistry with the audience was unreal. When they called us back on stage for more, it was a moment we’ll never forget. We’d love to be part of future editions.”
Rising local star Sipho “Snowy” Ncube didn’t just perform, he absorbed. For him, the festival wasn’t just a gig, it was a masterclass in musical excellence.
“This festival is a blessing to up-and-coming gospel artistes like myself. We’ve long needed a platform to showcase our gifts, and Ekhaya provided that. I learnt so much from watching the seasoned performers. I’m hopeful that more young voices will get this chance.”
And then there’s the man at the centre of it all, Everton Mlalazi, who could not help but beam with joy and humility.
“Ekhaya is about coming back home and giving back to the community that raised me. I’m from Nyamandlovu, and Bulawayo is my hometown. This vision was born from conversations with my wife, Gamuchirai, who also manages me. She always listens to my dreams and helps make them real.”
The turnout? Overwhelming. The energy? Divine. The outcome? A new spiritual tradition for the city of Kings.
“We’re coming back next year, May 24. Ekhaya Worship Festival is now officially an annual event. We’ll be sharing more details soon,” said Mlalazi.
So whether you were there to dance, to worship, to reconnect, or just to soak in the music, one thing’s for sure: Ekhaya Worship Festival made a mark and gospel lovers in Bulawayo (and beyond) are already counting down the days until the next one.
