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However this weekend is different as the who is who in the arts sector descend on the city of kings, for various gigs.
This week the outgoing people are spoilt for choice as the city will be set on fire by Sulumani Chimbetu, Sandra Ndebele and the country’s premier awarding ceremony, National Arts Merit Awards (Nama).
Sandra will be launching her sixth album No Matter What, on Friday at Rainbow Hotel, while Sulu will be coming for a gig scheduled for Khumalo Hockey Stadium on the same day.
The festive mood is set to be rolled out with Valentine’s Day events dotted around the city tomorrow.
In an interview, Orchestra Dendera Kings manager, Trevor Jakachira said Sulumani is excited to be coming for a show after three years.
“Sulumani is going to give his fans a variety of songs taken from his and his father’s recordings,” he said.
Sulumani, who is riding high with his song Sean Timba (Batai Munhu) from the album Syllabus, last performed in Bulawayo in 2010 when he was part of the Big Five show that featured the likes of Oliver Mtukudzi, Peter Moyo and Alick Macheso.
Jakachira said fans are going to be given an opportunity to make their own musical requests thus making the show participatory.
Sulumani has also set aside $700 to host children from King George VI for lunch.
“We have already made arrangements to host children from King George VI on Saturday afternoon. We are going to buy them lunch worth $700 or more and the children will have an opportunity to meet Sulumani and the rest of the band,” he said.
Sulumani is organising the lunch as part of giving back to the community that has been supporting him since he took over the reigns of the Orchestra Dendera Kings in 2004.
Jakachira said after the lunch, Sulumani expected is to proceed to Bulawayo Large City Hall for the Nama awards ceremony. His album, released on 15 November last year, is in the running for the outstanding album award.
On the other hand, Sandra said her album launch is going to be the mother of all launches.
“The sponsors are coming through and I can tell you, this is going to be the biggest party of the year. I am going all out,” Ndebele said.
The album, No Matter What, is sung in Shona, Ndebele and English in a bid for it to appeal to a wider audience.
Nani Ntengo, Sonto Dlahla and Nelly Gwala that make up South African group Platform One, are also billed to perform at the event whose guest of honour is the Minister of Media, Information and Publicity, Webster Shamu.
“The dress code to the event is African wear, as we would like to promote Ubuntu. A fine of $5 will be paid by those who will fail to wear the said garb,” Sandra said.
The artiste said she is expecting over 600 people at the event.
Online Reporter