Tinaye Agere
Online Reporter
NOW in its third year, the Kadoma Music Festival, which has grown significantly over the past editions, will see close to 10 acts getting on stage on Saturday.
The organisers are toying around with the idea of having a surprise act for the festival.
“We have already signed the Tembo Brothers and Cheso Boys as part of us recognising and respecting our legends, but we might have a surprise daughter of a legend stepping onto the stage come Saturday,” revealed a spokesperson for the festival.
The festival will kick off just after sunset, with Chimurenga youngster, Kurai Makore likely to open the night’s proceedings.
The Tembo Brothers, Cheso Boys, Gemma Griffiths, Saintfloew, Jah Prayzah, Winky D, Alick Macheso and Tanzanian Diamond Platinumz will also take to the stage.
Organisers of the festival that started in 2022 hope to build on the success of this year’s event to morph it into a national music festival from next year.
“We are looking at the central location of Kadoma, geographically that is, and we think that this could be crucial in helping us change this festival into a national one, where all the corners of the country will converge in the city for an all-embracing musical fete.
“The other temptation is to expand the format from a one-day event, to say two or three days. These are ideas we are working around, and we will be guided by the success of this year’s event,” said the spokesperson.
He said they have been encouraged by the response so far.
“I can confirm that we have had ticket sales in Zambia, sales in Botswana and this shows how far the festival has gone in terms of reach and influence,” he said.
“If we have aroused interest in our neighbours, why can we not grow the festival to a national one? Instead of focussing on Kadoma, we are looking at calling it the Zimbabwe Music Festival. Or better still, Zimbabwe Arts Festival, so that we are not limited to just music.”
The spokesperson added that those who want to attend the show and are coming from out of Kadoma and its environs should not be worried about accommodation as all the hotel rooms have been reserved for the festival-goers.
“We have enough accommodation for everyone and anyone needing somewhere to sleep can get in touch with us, the event organisers, to secure hotel rooms,” he said.
Online Reporter
Bongani Ndlovu