Online Reporter
Trust Khosa
Zimpapers Arts, Entertainment Hub
Red-hot songbird Feli Nandi shattered records beyond doubt last Friday at a packed Harare conference facility, with the venue filled to the rafters in what was undoubtedly one of the stand-out performances of her career.
To say she filled HICC, as had been her wish, would be an understatement.
Record-shattering aptly sums up Feli Nandi’s latest feat, as she reminded the nation that Zimbabwe’s showbiz landscape is increasingly becoming female-driven.
The other female diva who effortlessly packs the same venue is Janet Manyowa, who has made HICC her annual playground through her A Night of Thanksgiving (ANOT) concert held on New Year’s Day.
This time, however, it was Feli Nandi’s turn to make history.
Exuding confidence as ever, Feli, as she is popularly known, was in high spirits throughout the performance.
Her journey makes the achievement even more remarkable.
From being an ordinary backing vocalist for Ashton “Mbeu” Nyahora to becoming one of Zimbabwe’s most celebrated female performers, Feli’s rise is a powerful testimony to perseverance, talent and divine favour.
Her unceremonious departure from Mbeu’s camp after being shown the door by then-manager Eugene Museredza could easily have marked a low point in her career.
Instead, it appears to have been the beginning of a much bigger chapter.
Her story is living testimony that a calling, once ordained, cannot easily be suppressed by man.
Like a volcano, it may remain dormant for a while, but when the time is right, it will erupt with unstoppable force.
For Feli, real name Felistas Chipendo, that moment has arrived, and she is clearly living her dream.
If truth be told, she must have felt as though she was in dreamland.
She nailed every aspect of the show, from her wardrobe and choreography to her commanding stage presence. She exhausted her rich repertoire of choreography while belting out crowd favourites such as Murume Mutema, Mubayei and Vakaita Sewe.
Her ability to command such a large audience also demonstrated just how far she has travelled in a relatively short period.
The HICC concert was not merely about filling a venue; it was a declaration that Feli Nandi has graduated from being a promising talent to becoming a formidable force on Zimbabwe’s entertainment scene. The enthusiastic response from fans throughout the night suggested that her appeal now stretches far beyond her music to her personality, fashion, and ability to deliver a complete entertainment package.
More importantly, the concert reinforced the growing influence of female musicians in Zimbabwean showbiz.
To underline the fact that she had already filled the venue, a pre-recorded “thank you” message was played on the big screen.
Everything about the show appeared well scripted and carefully executed.
She also took the opportunity to parade her manager, Connie Mazani, who has been the driving force behind her ascendancy to acclaim.
Feli also demonstrated that she is a fashionista par excellence, with her band members dressed appropriately for the occasion. She changed costumes as she pleased, matching each outfit to the particular set.
“Uyu hatinyare naye,” a loyal fan could be heard saying.
“She knows what she is doing, and we are definitely guaranteed good times ahead.”
Speaking to journalists after her performance, Feli hailed her fans for their loyalty and continued support.
“I can’t thank God enough for this huge turnout,” she told journalists after her performance. “The fans were really amazing and wonderful to me. I will always cherish and thank them.”
As a torchbearer proudly representing female musicians, Feli Nandi has vowed to continue working hard.
“I would like to urge all female musicians who look up to me to continue raising the bar. I encourage them to work hard and believe in themselves,” she said.
Like any other high-profile gig, Feli Nandi’s show had its talking points.
When it dawned on the organisers that Feli had filled the venue, bouncers became a nuisance, barring some fans who had already purchased tickets.
Personnel from the security firm on duty (name withheld) also gave some journalists and artistes a nightmarish experience as they struggled to gain access despite holding the required tags and accreditation.
This is an area Feli Nandi’s team should look into when organising future events. If it was an audition for Chimurenga music star Kurai Makore, who has reportedly been barred from performing his uncle Thomas “Mukanya” Mapfumo’s songs during live shows, he passed with distinction.
Makore wowed the crowd with his own songs. After all, he has sing-along tracks such as “Pasi”, “Tombie”, “Hukama” and “Gotokoto”.
The crowd simply enjoyed his act from start to finish, despite him performing after Feli Nandi.
“He is good despite all the noise from Mapfumo. The old man and Kurai must find each other,” a local music promoter said.
The promoter, who preferred anonymity and did not want to be drawn into the Makore-Mapfumo war of words, added.
