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The show, which is organised by Alliance Francaise de Bulawayo, will see Bulawayo based jazz outfit, Afro-Culture Band, which consists of six members, perform beside Mabandla.
The show is set for next week on Saturday night.
In a statement, Alliance Francaise de Bulawayo cultural manager, Gilmore Moyo, said the show would be an opportunity for people to celebrate music.
He said the annual event was meant to be a cultural exchange.
“Annually, the Alliance Francaise de Bulawayo, among many, celebrates this day through holding concerts and inviting an artiste from outside Zimbabwe to come grace the City of Kings. Mabandla is brought to Bulawayo as part of our arts and cultural activities that we hold on a regular basis in conjunction with the French Embassy,” said Moyo.
He said the promising local Afro-jazz outfit would also take to the stage and “to celebrate the day, Bongeziwe Mabandla will perform alongside Afro-Culture Band, the youngest afro-jazz band in Bulawayo, led by Lungile Ndlovu and consisting of Saul Namati, Kelvin Bvunzawabaya, Prosper Ndebele, Bright Bereft and Xolani Ndlovu. This is a young and talented group that will share the stage with him.”
He said Mabandla’s music was a fusion of traditional Xhosa music and soul, hip-hop and dub styles that create a unique sound that appeals to a broad African audience. “Mabandla has always made the most of his life experiences and his own personal journey to write his music, which is a fusion between traditional Xhosa music and soul, hip-hop and dub styles.
“Today, he looks to create music which is accessible and which people can identify with,” said Moyo.
Mabandla has shared the limelight with artistes like 340ML, Thandiswa Mazwai, Tumi and Experience Kwani to name but a few.
At the end of 2008, Mabandla released his first album entitled Umlilo, which was produced by Paulo Chibanga.
The album of the same name came out soon afterwards and united many South African artistes such as Zulu-Boy, MXO, Kyla Rose Smith of Freshly Ground and Nosisi ex-singer of Experience Kwani.
World Music Day, also called Fête de la Musique, is celebrated the world over on 21 May.
Its purpose is to promote amateur and professional musicians by encouraging them to perform in the streets.
Online Reporter