adminShowbiz Reporter
All is set for the first edition of the Chibuku Road to Fame talent search kicking off today in Masvingo and the provincial competitions will be held in all the 10 provinces culminating in the traditionally colourful finals in Harare on September 27. Twelve groups from the Masvingo province Mufaro Vocals (Renco Mine), Tayiya Music (Masvingo Urban), Orchestra Mufaro Chete (Mashava), Zvinoita Crew (Masvingo Urban), Shumba Express (Ngundu), Power Mac (Mwenezi), Zvirimuropa Express (Masvingo), Orchestra Wekaya (Chiredzi), Lullaby Super Sounds (Chiredzi), Madux Stars (Gutu), Dzimbadzamabwe Sounds (Masvingo), and Orchestra Horiyatongo Jazz Band (Bondolif), will battle it out for a position at the finals.
Manicaland provincials will be held next weekend followed by Matabeleland North on June 21. Matabeleland South finals will be held the week after, followed by Mashonaland Central on July 5.
Mashonaland West will take over on July 12, before the provincials head to the capital on July 19. From Harare, the provincials will move to Bulawayo on July 26, then Midlands on August 2, before the holding of the final provincials in Mashonaland East on August 9.
The Chibuku Neshamwari traditional dance competition is already underway. Today, the Neshamwari provincials will be held in Mashonaland Central before moving to Bulawayo next weekend. Midlands will host their provincials on June 21, followed by Harare the week after.
On July 5, the Neshamwari team will be in Manicaland before making their way to Masvingo on July 12, then Mashonaland East on July 19. The Matabeleland province provincials will kick off on July 26, in Matabeleland North and on August 2 the team will be in Matabeleland South.
Last year, Bindura based outfit “The Way Band” were the Chibuku Road to Fame winners following in the footsteps of Terry and the Bliss, the 2012 winners who broke the stranglehold of Sungura with fresh contemporary jazz-inspired sounds.
Chibuku Neshamwari has been at the forefront of promoting traditional dance in Zimbabwe. Last year’s Chibuku Neshamwari winners were Bulawayo’s Umkhathi Theatre Works group who put up a sterling performance of a traditional Tswana dance called Setata.
Founded in 1963 and 2001 respectively, the Chibuku Neshamwari and the Chibuku Road to Fame have become respected brands in promoting the arts industry in Zimbabwe.
derick.khumalo