Second aï¿½?Homeaï¿½ï¿½ Coming

Nkululeko Nkala, Talking Arts

YearS ago, December was the month of fun because things to look forward to were Christmas and New Yearaï¿½ï¿½s eve.

Fast forward to 2014-15 these have been overtaken by Kalawaaï¿½ï¿½s homecoming gig. This gig is so big, companies trample on each other trying to partner, media canaï¿½ï¿½t be left out and journalists want to be the ones coming with a different angle to the gig. Last year even the once mighty ZBC partnered with the XMO Squad driven Kalawa gig (a first really).

Yes, I know itaï¿½ï¿½s nowhere near December and yea the gig I am writing about is not the Second Home Coming but just Second Coming (Clever indeed). There is no XMO or Oskido near this event.

There is a little charity to it though as some of the proceeds will go to Orap. The similarities? The name leans a little towards the homecoming. The publicity material looks exactly like the Kalawa ones. Both events happen at Queens Sports Club. The lineup, not as big, but big enough to pull crowds. I mean it goes without saying that Nathi of the Nomvula fame is big business, there is Bucie, Kid X and Calvin the hip-hop king to name a few. Just like the Christmas period, this event falls during the Business Christmas which is Trade Fair. I am certain with a little push on the publicity side the event could sell well.

Whataï¿½ï¿½s funny though is that we sometimes go through an events drought. We are in most cases kept going by the small events happening at the Gallery and Bulawayo Theatre, which unfortunately do not get the attention that the big ones get. We need support for local arts in the same way the foreign or those from out of Bulawayo get.

We will kill for an audience but it starts with the ZIFMaï¿½ï¿½s and ZBCaï¿½ï¿½s jumping onto our gigs without demanding $3 000 for the partnership, yet for the same services given for free with foreign acts (just an example).

My point is the next weekend is filled with a barrage of high profile events. On the 29th Sarah Mpofu and Fingers Modelling Agency stage the first ever Miss Africa Zimbabwe running under the theme Rebranding and uniting Africa.

A total of 16 beauties from Bulawayo, Victoria Falls, Karoi, Kadoma, Harare, Beitbridge and Bindura will catwalk for honours on the ramp. Performers on the night are Calvin, Babongile Skhonjwa, Sandra Ndebele a guy called Khuliyo, Sthandazile Dube and Lewis and The Drums of Peace.

Same night Oliver Mtukudzi, Jeys Marabini , Pakare Paye and others remember Sam Mtukudzi at City Hall. Another all-star gig, same night as an all-important Miss Africa Zimbabwe. I know Bulawayo is supposed to be the second largest city in the country. But do we have enough audiences to split them? Anyway still at double gigs. The second coming is on the same night as Jah Prayzah and Winky Daï¿½ï¿½s show.

Those too are hot property at the moment and worse still their gig is $5 before 10pm. It could count for something you know.

Anyway back to this week. Today we have another clash of events. Sarah Mpofu and Lewis Ndlovu present Nyembezi at Bulawayo Theatre. Itaï¿½ï¿½s a one woman piece written and directed by Lewis. Tswarelo Mothobe and Bhekumusa Moyo are at The National Gallery in a poetry clash dubbed Mlomo Wakho Poetry Slam. The two man slam is a first of its kind.

Three dollars and $5 get you in respectively. Letaï¿½ï¿½s keep the events coming my dear arts comrades. Please support local arts my Bulawayo people. Happy 36th Birthday Zimbabwe. Until next week, be safeaï¿½ï¿½