adminUpcoming music groups from Harare South and surrounding areas have a chance to showcase their talent courtesy of a new programme introduced by Nice Day Business Units centre in Southlea Park.
The centre, which also houses Nice Day Sports Bar, has given birth to a promising sungura coalition comprising groups from the area and surrounding places.
The coalition, which calls itself The Big Five (Local Talent), has used the Nice Day platform to entertain revelers and sharpen music skills in their backyard during most weekends. The team of five bands has one non-sungura member in energetic chimurenga singer Mama Rachie who fronts Touch Family.
Leading the sungura team is Stephen Dhibhura of the “Ndezvekushupikira” fame who has roped in his 13-year-old son Tawanda as guitarist for the shows at the centre.
Other bands that make up the combination are Samaz Clear Sounds, Jerera Sounds and Top Sungura. They usually invite guest upcoming sungura acts and last weekend they were joined by Orchestra Happy Kings.
Dhibhura said the Nice Day Centre programme has been instrumental in giving them exposure in their backyard and creating a united team that can change the artistic face of Harare South.
Dhibhura, who unveiled his fifth album “Pinda Mudariro” yesterday, said the Southlea Park platform played a major role as he fine-tuned his album in front of music fans before he went to the studio.
“We are happy to have such a platform in our area. It is good for us and other musicians in the area and surrounding places. We are given a chance to showcase our talent and interact with our fans more often,” said Dhibhura.
“Most promoters go for established musicians and we are happy that Nice Day Centre came with a different arrangement. Most of the bands in the team are not popular but we can make good shows as a combination and we will soon be going to other venues for shows as The Big Five of Southlea Park.
“We share payments we get from Nice Day but our shows are free to music lovers. Such an arrangement makes it possible for upcoming groups to start building fan bases at the free shows. We are very happy to work with organisers of this programme and encourage other upcoming sungura groups to consider joining the team. The organisers are willing to work with musicians from various genres.”
Nice Day marketing and entertainment manager Shepherd Gahadzikwa said they are looking forward to working with more musicians at the centre to bring entertainment to the area and promote talent.
“Our focus is mainly sungura but we also host musicians of other genres. This is a new settlement and there is little entertainment in the area, so we are bringing these bands to entertain people for free. We pay the bands but they perform for free for music lovers from the area,” he said.
“We are happy to work with upcoming musicians so that they can sharpen their skills through this platform.”
Besides upcoming musicians, the place has also hosted top artistes like Tryson Chimbetu, Allan Chimbetu, Progress Chipfumo and Tendai Dembo.
Online Reporter