Jah Prayzah draws bumper crowd

Lisa Masuku/ Hazel Marimbiza Showbiz Reporters
MAN of the moment Jah Prayzah has taken over the mantle of drawing thousands to his shows from Sungura maestro Alick Macheso, if the revellers that packed the Bulawayo Amphitheatre on Saturday night are anything to go by. Supported by Killer T and Bulawayo’s Guluva 7, it was evident that many at the venue had come to see Jah Prayzah perform.

Macheso, in his heyday, enjoyed success at various shows where he would fill up venues. Of late he has not enjoyed similar achievements at his shows. Attendance at Macheso’s traditional strongholds in Harare like Jongwe Corner, Newlife Nite Club, Pamuzinda and Extra Mile even Amphitheatre in Bulawayo, have become a pale shadow of yesteryear shows.

Now it seems that Jah Prayzah is fast becoming a living musical legend as fans seem to be flocking to his shows. On the night, the venue was packed to the rafters with thousands of revellers and there was no empty seat with fans jostling to get a good vantage point to watch the performers.

Kudzai Matondo, one of the organisers popularly known as DJ Dee Nosh, expressed excitement at the huge turn out because he had not anticipated such a big crowd. “This is the biggest crowd we’ve had at a Jah Prayzah show in Bulawayo. About 3,000 fans have entered while more people are coming in. I knew we would’ve a good crowd but I didn’t expect this much. I’m all smiles”, he said.

Fast rising hip hop artiste Guluva 7 did not disappoint when he got on stage before Jah Prayzah. He belted out his catchy songs such as Daza to topola and a fan favorite Gijima, which revellers sang along to. Guluva 7 showed composure and was not overawed by the occasion and is an artiste to look out for.

When Jah Prayzah’s band got on stage at 10PM, fans were thrilled but could not wait for the man himself as they had been eagerly expecting him for about close to an hour. Clad in his popular military attire, Jah Prayzah, also known as Msoja, took centre stage and his energy on stage turned the already electric mood at the venue up a notch as fans got down to songs from his latest album.

Songs which fans sang along and danced to included Sisiriya, Tsviriyo, Eriza, Amai and Kumbumura Mhute. Jah Prayzah ended his set at around 2AM and Zimdancehall star Killer T took over and wowed fans with his hit single Itai Ndione.