SA acts turn to Harare

Bruce Ndlovu
Before their recent show at the Bulawayo Amphitheatre, South African house group MiCasaa��s frontman Ja��Something said in an interview that they had been eager to perform in the City of Kings because they had been told that was where most of their fans were resident.A�A� A�

a�?We have always wanted to come to Bulawayo because we were told that this is the house music capital of the country,a�? said J Something adding that they had been to Harare four times.

To many in Zimbabwe this would have not have been news. House music and other South African staples are eagerly consumed in Bulawayo.

This phenomenon is an age-old one, with some pointing out geographical, linguistic or cultural similarities as some of the reasons that South African music blares out of most speakers in Bulawayo.

From the viscose shirt-wearing Soul Brothers era to the all-star and bucket hat-wearing youth of Cassper Nyovesta��s generation, South African stars have always been on top of the entertainment list in the City of Kings.

However, the past few years has seen a number of acts that people thought would probably find more takers in Bulawayo being taken to the capital where they have met equally enthusiastic crowds.

It was telling that MiCasa, a group most thought was tailor-made for Bulawayo tastes, only came to Bulawayo after having performed in Harare four times.

Only last week, Mafikizolo and K.O reportedly performed admirably in the capital where they earned more adulation than Zimbabwea��s own darlings Winky D and Jah Prayzah.

The case of K.O is particularly indicative of the current state of affairs.

The self proclaimed originator and king of Skhanda rap, a style of hip-hop that blends the current sounds of hip-hop with 90s era Kwaito sounds and rhythms, K.O has been a favourite in Bulawayo since his days with Teargas.

When he last came with that group to Bulawayo they had Horizon Pub bursting at the seams despite the fact that as much as $30 was charged at the door on that occasion.

Since then he has reinvented himself as a solo artiste, and grown to be one of the most played artistes in the citya��s clubs, as he rode the crest of the wave of the success garnered by his 2014 smash hit, Cara Cara.

However, despite his obvious adulation in Bulawayo, he is yet to set foot in Bulawayo. Stars like Nyovest have also performed in the capital before Bulawayo, while Mafikizolo and Zahara have also become regular performers in the capital where they attract hugely impressive crowds.

Many reasons can be cited for this change. The popularity of Sabc across Zimbabwe in the last decade or so and the rise of Multichoicea��s South African music centred music stations like MTV Base and Channel O has meant that South African content and culture which used to be the Holy Grail for Bulawayo youths is now also easily available to those in other parts of the country.

The Kwaito craze that went largely unacknowledged in other parts of the country has now been repackaged and it is proving palatable to all.

This in turn has meant that promoters can market South African artistes easily anywhere in the country.

a�?Bulawayo has no money,a�? DNosh of 2 Kings Entertainment, who helped bring Mafikizolo and K.O says with a chuckle.

a�?Seriously ita��s hard to bring acts to Bulawayo and I really dona��t see people paying more than $5 for any act,a�? he said.

In other terms, Bulawayo has become a risk for live shows, as poor turnouts save for one or two shows have left promoters reeling.

a�?One has to be careful on how and who they bring for shows. Ita��s not the same as the same old days where just any act could bring the crowds. Reading what acts people want at that moment is very important,a�? he said. .