adminFusion, Attacking Super Sounds Sungura and Jungle Tribe Afro Jazz.
The groups are drawn from the country’s 10 provinces.
This year, the competition will be held to mark the Golden Jubilee of the Chibuku brand.
“This year’s event come in the Golden Jubilee of our brand, Chibuku, and we expect very high standard performances across all provinces leading to the main event at Glamis Stadium on September 29.
“The Chibuku brand is passionate about the development of the arts.
“Our partnership with the National Arts Council is not only about identifying and nurturing artistic talent at the grassroots, but is also an opportunity for our consumers to live the brand experience in song and dance and celebrate life,” said an official from Delta Beverages.
While last year the event attracted a capacity crowd of over 13 000 people, this year, it is expected to exceed figures from previous years.
The group that clinches the first prize will join the elite league of previous Chibuku Road to Fame winners in the likes of Romeo Gasa, among others.
These artistes have gone on to become established musicians in their own right, courtesy of the competition.
In previous years, competitors have had the privilege to rub shoulders with some of the country’s music legends like Oliver Mtukudzi, Alick Macheso and the late Tongai Moyo who featured as guest performers at previous events.
Chibuku Road to Fame is Zimbabwe’s biggest and most successful talent identification platform.
The programme is a collaborative effort between Delta Bevarages and the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe.
Its major objectives are to promote the development of musical groups through identifying groups with potential to produce recordable material and assist winning groups in documenting their work.
The initiative has benefited quite a number of young musicians in countrywide, whose talent would otherwise have gone unnoticed.
Many young and upcoming musicians see this programme as the first step to stardom.
They enter the competition with hope that one day they will actually have a recording contract, something which they dream of.
Chibuku Road to Fame has attracted the interest of many in both rural and urban areas.
Its focus, which aims at benefiting those who cannot record given the nature of our music industry, becomes the source of motivation for many.
The expensive cost of recording companies and the cost of hiring musical instruments is the major stumbling blocks to aspiring artistes.
Previous winners of the programme include Munandi Express — 2011, Club Shanga — 2010, Extra Valembe — 2007 and Chuka Trinity — 2006.
Online Reporter