adminSO the much-hyped show of the year is not going to take place after all. It is official John Legend is no longer performing in Zimbabwe. I can hear a lot of screaming from women! This time the screams are not filled with excitement but disappointment and anger. Yes, the show whose tickets were sold out within a week or two was cancelled this past week and reasons for the cancellation are still to be given. And boy the tickets were so expensive — some going for about $150 per head!
What is baffling at the moment is that immediately after the cancellation of the Zimbabwean show another performance was added for Durban, South Africa. This alone led to a lot of speculation. Did someone get too greedy?
Is the cancellation some form of misplaced political statement? Why would an artiste cancel a sold out show? Was it something the organisers or the artiste himself heard about Zimbabwe.
But whatever is the case, a lot of John Legend fans in this country were left with some bitter taste in their mouths. Most tickets holders will not be blamed if they feel cheated — robbed. It was going to be the show of the year, for some the show of a lifetime. Unfortunately, it will never be. Maybe it was too good to be true. Not that Zimbabwe has not successfully hosted big international stars before. In fact, the country has played host to the likes of Joe Thomas, Akon and other big names before. In terms of hosting big musical shows there is no doubt that Zimbabwe is capable of hosting international shows. The Harare International Festival of the Arts (Hifa) brings in international artistes every year.
So as ticket holders hope to get their refunds and move on with their lives some of us, even without tickets, shall continue looking for answers to some of our questions about the cancellation.
Community Radio public hearings on
Bulawayo is being invited to public meetings in which three companies will make presentations on how they intend to run commercial radio stations in the city. In the public meetings Bulawayo residents get a chance to meet and interrogate the three radio stations that are vying for the sole licence to operate a commercial community radio station in the city. The commercial station is expected to cover Bulawayo and those in the surrounding 40 kilometres radius. As we have said before commercial radios will give residents of the city an alternative voice, especially for those that have been crying about lack of representation.
The three shortlisted stations to make presentations are Skyz Metro, fronted by Cont Mhlanga and Qhubani Moyo. There is also Skyz FM owned by Trevor Ncube and Skies Fm fronted by veteran broadcaster Ezra “Tshisa” Sibanda and bankrolled (we are told) by Obert Mpofu. These make interesting options. The hearings are set for Rainbow Hotel in the first week of September. Make a date and hear what the companies are offering for the city in terms of alternative voices.
Allen Mhlanga to launch new album
The veteran artiste known as Allen Mhlanga or Papa will next month launch his latest album titled Wake Up and Live. Mhlanga, who was once a member of Amakhosi Theatre, said his new album is a continuation from his last album. He continues in his gospel of unity and working together. Mhlanga, during a Press conference to announce the launch of the new album, said his albums are like chapters of the same book, preaching the same message and philosophy. The album will be launched at the end of September at a venue yet to be named.
Online Reporter