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Langalakhe Mabena
THE festive season was filled with a joyous and ecstatic mood with music fanatics and those who enjoy going out treated to quality music through live performances at different night spots and showbiz arenas.
What makes the festivities of the past year more interesting is that most gigs that took place in the city of Bulawayo were headlined by local acts, with the crowds complementing the events with massive attendances.
Yesteryear, it was a template that South African artistes would own Bulawayo through different events that they hosted in the city.
For example, it had become public knowledge that on Unity Day Mzansi’s Black Motion would be headlining a local show, with Oskido doing his Christmas All-White Party followed by the Kalawa Jazmee Homecoming, a show which shut down the year.
However, Covid-19 halted foreign shows and when things eased, local promoters were sold on an idea of hosting gigs that are headlined by local artistes.
It’s not a walk in the park especially to promote these kinds of shows and convince Bulawayo music fanatics to come and witness their own performing, a norm that has negatively affected local creatives for many years due to poor attendance.
The shows that were held during the festive season are a testimony that locals are starting to embrace local content and kudos to local promoters who took the risk and hosted events that gave local artistes a chance to showcase their talent.
Among top promoters who gave music lovers good value for their money, dancing to local music is Tapiwa Gandiwa, proprietor of Palace Hotel who hosted Insimbi ZeZhwane two times in December at the venue.
Indazi, as Insimbi ZeZhwane are famously known, managed to navigate through the depths of grief and loss of their members Ma-Eli and MaViri as they managed to attract over 3 000 people at their last gig in 2023 at The Palace, where they shared the stage with Baba Harare.
On the sidelines of the gig, Gandiwa said as the year ends, there was a need to show humanity as he donated the venue to the group so that they could raise money to buy themselves band equipment and also fend for their families.
All gate takings went straight to Insimbi ZeZhwane.
“Insimbi have performed here a number of times and after the death of Ma Eli and Maviri we saw it fit that we donate the venue and organise this gig so that we honour our fallen friends and also give those who are alive a stepping stone to move on.
“I am happy that people came in numbers and this is a great gesture from the people of Bulawayo and beyond as they proved that it’s possible for local creatives to have a life through music. We will continue working with Insimbi because they have also adopted Palace Hotel as their home,” said Gandiwa.
Other artistes who performed in different gigs at Palace Hotel include Godolude, Clemence Magwaza and Abigail Mabuza.
From Harare, they were Leonard Zhakata, Baba Harare, Alick Macheso, Jah Signal, as well as Enzo Ishall who performed on Christmas Eve.
On a rare note, hip-hop or RnB and Soul fanatics who were yearning to listen to golden yesteryear hits surrounded by hip-hoppers and RnB stars like themselves, had their own treat this festive.
A gig at The Pavillion, at the Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre (ZIEC) was held for hip-hoppers to celebrate the culture of the genre dubbed the “Private School,”
The event saw a number of local DJs rotating on the ones and twos including Emity Smooth, Kead Wikead, Prince Eskhosini, Mark Vusani, B Man, Bryce DJ Klasiq, Kimble Rogers, Ryan Synth and Ash T.
Band Fusion was also there to provide alternative entertainment as they performed in different segments of the event organised by Bulawayo Exclusive Event in partnership with True West.
The local House Music movement held a number of gigs in December.
They hosted two editions of House in CBD, and on New Year’s Eve, they held a gig at Stop Over Bar dubbed Friends of the House in CBD – Djembe and 808’s New Year’s Shutdown.
The line-up was made up of local DJs Crazy Dee, Djembe Monks, Feel G, Dominic, Slim T, Skaiva, Zulu Da House Maniac, Umlungu Omnyama, to mention a few.
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In an interview one of the founders of the movement said they saw an opportunity to host their gigs during the festive season as the events would give more mileage to local DJs as well as push their brand.
“This movement is all about bridging the gap between local artistes and DJs and their audience so that they are in one space with one common denominator, which is House music.
“On the festive season we saw that many people were in the mood of going out and we took our chances by hosting these gigs which gave us a mileage as we recorded massive numbers in attendance,” said Feel G.
The most glamorous 2023 Shutdown party in Bulawayo was the Munch and Sip New Year’s Eve gig which was held at Queens Sports club.
Despite Mzansi’s Busta 929 in no show, locals vibed to local music from The Travellers Band, Bhila, Mandie Mae, as well as DJ Ash T, to mention a few, showing that there is no need to bring in many foreign artistes for Bulawayo to have a party.
Local artistes have embraced the support they received during various shows by both the promoters as well as local fans.
One of the most loved creatives Mzoe 7 who was a regular on various gigs on the festive season, said he is a product of local support and he wishes that local promoters and people continue to embrace local talent so that they will be able to put food on the table.
Brema, the front-man of Insimbi ZeZhwane said the support they were receiving especially during the festive season was overwhelming.
“2023 was not a great year for us, death caught us off guard and claimed Ma-Eli and Maviri. But the support that we received from the people of Bulawayo and beyond was overwhelming.
“We managed to win a car at the RoilBAAs which is a sign of love from our fans who voted for us. We had a great festive season as we were fully booked. We give thanks to local promoters for hiring and booking us as their efforts have made us able to put food on the table.
“Before, we cried that there was no support, but, due to working with local promoters, we are now gigging and it’s fruitful because we have since relocated from South Africa and we are now fully based in Zimbabwe because of the high demand,” said Brema.
Online Reporter