Online Reporter
Langalakhe Mabena
Zimpapers Entertainment Hub
The stage is set for the ninth edition of Jacaranda Music Festival, with organisers putting the final touches on a three-day celebration that brings together some of Zimbabwe’s biggest names, emerging talent, and regional acts.
The festival will run from tomorrow, October 2-4 at Thornpark Polo Club in Harare under the theme, “The Music. The People. The City.”
Festival director Walter Wanyanya said preparations were progressing well as the organisers worked to create an experience that goes beyond the music.
“Preparations are going very well. At this stage, everything is starting to come together, from production, artistes, partners, logistics, as well as all the different experiences we’re building around the festival,” he said.
Jah Prayzah and The Travellers Band will headline the opening day tomorrow, with performances also from Tamy Moyo, Andile Brown, DJ Young Vibes and Brze.
The first day is expected to set the tone for the festival by bringing together established musicians and younger per-formers, with audiences getting a taste of Zimbabwe’s contemporary music scene.
The second day, Saturday, will shift the spotlight towards a mixture of live music, amapiano, Afro-house and other contemporary sounds.
Feli Nandi, Sylent Nqo, Junior Spragga, Spirit Chronicles, Maluka, Msiz’kay and Kotwane Hikwa are among the performers lined up, alongside South African acts Njelic and Mr JazziQ, as well as Calequi Y Las Panteras, Nasibo, Taku Made The Beat, DJ Tatz Bless and Mwendamberi.
For Maluka, the festival provides an opportunity to introduce his solo work to a new audience after making his name as part of the Imbube ensemble Indosakusa: The Morning Star.
“It’s my first time performing at the festival as well as my first time performing in Harare. This is growth to me because for long I have been working with Indosakusa, coming to the capital as a solo act is a great deal. People should tie their dancing shoes because it’s going to be fireworks,” he said.
Sunday will bring the festival to a close with another diverse programme led by Mokoomba, Minister Michael Mahendere, and South African star Zee Nxumalo.
Also performing will be JustLeo, Nizhe De Soul, Mandie Mae, Cairo, Fusion 5 Mangwiro, DJ Young Vibes, Thando Lewandoski, MJ The DJ, Enhle and other performers.
For Victoria Falls-based singer JustLeo, Sunday’s performance will mark a major moment in her career as she moves from attending the festival as a fan to performing on its stage.
She said she would use the platform to showcase the sounds and culture of Victoria Falls.
“I’ve attended the Jacaranda Festival before, but I’ve never had the opportunity to perform on its stage. I’m coming with energy, rhythm, culture, and a sound that represents where I come from,” she said.
Apart from music, the festival will also have an industry-development component, with a Festival Managers Roundtable bringing together festival and event managers to discuss issues including sustainability, audience development, partnerships and technology.
There will also be opportunities for collaboration between Zimbabwean and international creatives through the Festival Connect Fund, which is bringing UK-based Larizzle to Zimbabwe.
However, the Jacaranda Music Festival has grown into one of Zimbabwe’s major annual music and cultural gatherings, bringing together local, regional and international artistes while celebrating Harare’s identity as a creative city.
Organised by Ngoma Nehosho, the festival was established in 2017 and has steadily expanded from a platform focused on showcasing Zimbabwean talent into a multi-day celebration of music, culture, lifestyle and entertainment.
The festival takes its name from Harare’s iconic jacaranda trees, which burst into bloom around the October period, providing a natural backdrop to the city’s spring festival season. Its central philosophy has remained closely linked to “The Music, The People, The City”, reflecting its intention to celebrate artistes, audiences and Harare itself.
Over the years, Jacaranda has featured an eclectic mix of genres, including contemporary Zimbabwean music, Afro-fusion, jazz, hip-hop, gospel, Amapiano and Afro-house, while giving emerging musicians opportunities to share stages with established performers. The festival has also incorporated music-business conferences, workshops and networking platforms aimed at strengthening the creative industry.
With three days of music, different genres, regional collaborations and opportunities for emerging artistes, Jacaranda Music Festival is positioning itself as both a major entertainment event and a platform for the growth of Zimbabwe’s creative industry.
