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Kundai Marunya Arts Correspondent
Afro-fusion outfit Identity Band snatched top spot at the annual “Chibuku Road to Fame” national finals held at the Glamis Arena on Saturday.
The Masvingo province representatives won the highly competitive talent contest by a narrow three-point margin to deny crowd favourites Harare Province’s Jesa, who came second with 220 points.
Identity Band walked away $20 000 richer and a recording contract, while second-placed Jesa were awarded $15 000.
Matabeleland South Province representatives Dengedza Express were awarded $10 000.
“We are very happy to have won the competition,” said Identity Band leader Munashe Zhira.
“It’s great to see that people appreciated our talent and the hard work we put in preparing for the competition.”
Zhira said they will inject the proceeds from the competition into their music.
“We have always lacked instruments and a PA (public address) system so we will use the money we won to buy that as well as advance our music,” he said.
Second-placed Jesa expressed their disappointment for not coming out tops.
Jesa were scheduled to open the Jacaranda Music Festival at Hellenic Sports Club but failed to do so on account of the competition rules.
“We were booked to perform at the festival even before the Chibuku Road to Fame provincial finals but today organisers of this competition told us rules prohibit us from doing so. Failure to comply with the rules would have led to our disqualification.
“After hearing about the rules, morale in our group got very low as we had been very excited to share the stage with top local and international acts at Jacaranda,” said band manager Gram Makwarimba.
The group wants to fulfil its dream to record its first album.
“We have been offered a recording contract by a big record label in South Africa and we will be dropping our album very soon,” said Makwarimba.
Chibuku Road to Fame is an annual contemporary music talent search platform organised by the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe in partnership with Delta Beverages through its Chibuku brand.
Online Reporter