Online Reporter
Langalakhe Mabena, [email protected]
AFTER having a successful debut season last year, the Kasi to Kasi talent search — an initiative by Dab Three Events — has returned for its second season as organisers aim to discover and promote local talent, with the competition winner set to secure a recording deal.
The city of Bulawayo, through its Bulawayo Arts Festival (BAF), has also endorsed the programme, becoming the main partner for the talent search.
So far, the first rounds have been held in Mzilikazi on February 28, Mpopoma on March 7, and Pumula on March 14. Cowdray Park will host its edition on March 21, while the National University of Science and Technology (Nust) will run its round on March 28.
After the first round, those selected as the best performers will compete in the second round on April 4 at the Dab Three Events studios. The list will then be trimmed again ahead of the finals, which will be held as part of BAF in June.
Those who progress to the final stage will perform in front of a live audience at the festival.
Archford Hadebe from Dab Three said the talent search was founded on the principle of decentralising access to the arts. He said the programme was designed to bridge the gap for talented individuals in Bulawayo who lack the means or formal platforms to showcase their skills.
“We realised that most people in Bulawayo find it hard to get platforms to showcase their talents. So, we decided to take the opportunity directly to their townships. To support us, the Bulawayo city council has generously opened up their youth centres across the city for us to use,” said Hadebe.
He revealed that they have received overwhelming responses from young, talented people who participated in some of the first round editions of the talent search.
“So far we have staged programmes in Mzilikazi, Mpopoma and Pumula, the response was overwhelming as a lot of young people participated in the show. This weekend we will be in Cowdray Park and we expect to register more people to participate.
“We have decided to extend the programme to Nust as we will also hold an edition at their premises. We realised that there is a massive population at Nust, hence, this means that there is a possibility of finding immense talent,” said Hadebe.
Last year’s winner of the Kasi to Kasi talent search was Mzilikazi-bred artiste Ricky Ice, who emerged as the overall top performer from a pool of more than 100 contestants drawn from across Bulawayo.
He has since recorded and released a 12-track album titled Mixed Testament, a project that marked his official arrival on the professional music scene.
The project features tracks such as Ndaizama, Singabantu Banye, Ndaenda, Dhenana, Hosanna, Imimoya, Mari, Baw and Arrow, Pass and Move, Mzilikazi, Jojo and Neighbour, with several of these songs enjoying significant airplay on local radio stations.
