Jeys works on UNWTO theme song

Entertainment Reporter
Bulawayo veteran musician, Majahahodwa “Jeys” Ndlovu has joined other Zimbabwean musicians in the race to produce the best UNWTO theme song. The competition is being run by the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) and will see a musician or producer of the best song smiling all the way to the bank $30 000 richer.
In an interview, Jeys said he was also joining the rest of the artistes in trying to come up with a song to mark the historic hosting of the event by Zimbabwe and Zambia.

“This is not an opportunity to win $30 000, but also to sing about the beauty of this nation. So we will come up with something and hopefully it will appeal to the judges,” he said.

ZTA has partnered the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (Nacz) and both are expected to set up the criteria for adjudication.
The judges will be looking for a song which is in line with the 20th session of the UNWTO which is being organised under the theme The Beat if Here.
Artistes who want to take part can perform as individuals or they can do collaborations.

According to ZTA the objective of the project was to use music to market not only UNWTO, but Zimbabwe as an attractive tourist destination.
The competition began on Monday and ZTA hopes that after a week, artistes would have submitted their demos for adjudication.

The initiative will also offer the winning song to be played to a wider audience and can be used as a vehicle to market not only the country, but the artiste as well.

Though there was no prize money, there was another marketing project through song that the country took through Ruvhuvhuto Sisters. The collaboration had Ivy Kombo-Kasi, Plaxedes Wenyika and the late Jackie Madondo and they came up with the song Come to Victoria Falls.

This however was in promotion of a single destination, unlike this initiative, which is all encompassing. The song which will be produced should embrace all the country’s destinations, leisure products and services.