Online Reporter
Ronald Mpofu
The vibrant border town of Plumtree is poised to welcome the New Year with an extra layer of rhythm as its beloved Amapiano maestro, DJ Mabae, prepares for his annual birthday eve celebration tonight.
The celebrated Crowd Club pooler, whose real name is Tawanda Mabate, was born on New Year’s Day. Since 2014, he has cleverly fused his personal milestone with the global festivities, hosting a major “birthday eve” event every 31st December.
“Tonight I’ll be celebrating my birthday eve in Plumtree town,” the DJ confirmed. “The event is hosted by Toundtainment, and I’ll be backed up by other local DJs, that is, DJ Lexx, Big Q and DJ Yogue.”
This signature fusion of personal and public celebration has proven to be a masterstroke for the artist’s career. DJ Mabae credits the event with significantly expanding his fanbase not only within the border town and surrounding areas but also reaching audiences in neighbouring South Africa and Botswana.
“This event has improved my fan base and deepened my passion for music and deejaying skills,” he explained. “My audience has been growing consistently since then.”
The event’s influence has even crossed borders in tangible ways. The DJ recounted a pivotal moment: “I remember an injiva (a term for a Zimbabwean working abroad) whom I impressed; he ended up talking to my manager, Handsome Sibanda. He organised a gig for me to play at Club Vibes in Johannesburg, South Africa, in May 2019.”
Tonight’s festivities are expected to be a marathon session of the finest Amapiano and celebration, scheduled to run from 6 pm straight through to the early hours of New Year’s Day. In a notable shift for the popular shutdown, this year’s edition will be a payable event for the first time, signalling its growing prestige and scale.
