admin
Problem Masau Arts Correspondent
The last day of the Harare Agricultural Show has always been synonymous with explosive gigs and this Saturday is no exception as lots of entertainment has been lined up for revellers, young and old, especially students who have days before schools open. Two major gigs are in the vicinity with the Summer Slam at Rainbow Towers Gardens and Harare Show Cup Clash at City Sports Centre. Fans would be spoilt for choice as both gigs have all the ingredients of a thriller.
Winky D, Jah Prayzah, Trevor Dongo, King Shady, Spyda, Jiggaz and a coterie of emcees will headline the Summer Slam Gig while Freeman, Sniper Storm, Shinsoman, Guspy Warrior, Ricky Fire, Dadza D, Killah T, Lady Squanda, Lady B, Seh Calaz, Bounty Lisa and Princo Spice will all battle for supremacy in the 2013 dancehall fiesta, that will take at City Sports Centre.
The beauty about the Summer Slam bash is that the musicians who are billed to perform cater for all audience.
Winky D is popular with ghetto youths, Jah Prayzah’s music cuts across all the age groups and Trevor Dongo is popular with the ladies.
The Ninja President, as Winky D is known, is in top form having been performing every week at the ongoing Campus Nights.
With a backing live band, Winky D is likely to bring the house down with a show to remember.
Jah Prayzah is one musician who is full of energy and verve. He is a complete entertainer – a dancer, singer and a good mbira player all bundled in one.
He has already found the replacement for dancer Generator who unceremoniously left the group because of personal problems.
The new recruit, only identified as Pamela, has managed to fill the void left by Generator and is proving to be a crowd favourite.
Trevor Dongo has matured since his entrance in the music circles a few years ago. With now a sizeable discography of hits, the musician is proving to be a ladies man churning out love songs for the heart.
Spyda, probably the youngest artiste in action on the night, is no pushover.
The 13-year-old Glen Norah-based chanter is equally talented and is capable of an upset.
Spyda in the past curtain raised for Jamaican superstar Mavado at the Harare International Conference Centre.
Munashe Tanjani, the young chanter, was nicknamed Spiderman by Mr Vegas, another celebrated Jamaican reggae/dancehall, who staged a show in Harare in 2011.
However, for hardcore dancehall lovers, the place to be is City Sports Centre.
Judging from the line-up, the real contest will be between Freeman, Sniper Storm, Shinsoman, Guspy Warrior and Lady Squanda.
Freeman is arguably dancehall’s man of the moment and his music is receiving heavy rotation at watering holes. His steady rise has seen him perform in neighbouring countries and overseas.
Sniper Storm is also a heavyweight in his own right as he is on top of his game. The Nama-award winning artiste is not new to these clashes as he has triumphed in many dancehall clashes since 2000.
In a career that spans more than a decade now, the veteran chanter is enjoying a purple patch after churning hits such as “Love YeMusoja” and “Bhinya” among others.
It is his fiery stage presence that is capable to knock other dancehall artistes of their perch. Shinsoman has been a revelation this year and now commands a huge following among dancehall lovers in the country.
The Highfield-based chanter’s husky voice has endeared him to many fans.
Guspy Warrior is also a dark horse who is capable of an upset and can easily run away with the crown. His party anthem “Seunononga” is arguably the song of the moment.
Controversial singer Lady Squanda is one female to watch out for as she has on many occasions outclassed male artistes.
Though she has dipped in form, the female chanter is capable of pulling off a surprise. However, she needs to work on her grooming and stage presentation.
Lady Squanda is associated with controversy on and off the stage. Recently, she gave a pathetic performance at the Super Label gig after she came on stage dead drunk and failed to perform.
Only last week, she was in the news again after allegedly faking her own death, as a marketing gimmick to promote her upcoming album titled “Rufu RwaSquanda”.
It is probably that controversy that is expected to ignite a revelling mood among her fans.
Online Reporter