Langalakhe Mabena Sunday Life Reporter
BULAWAYO’S Gospel music scene is bracing for another memorable night of worship and celebration as The Unveiled, one of Zimbabwe’s most sought-after Gospel outfits, returns to the City of Kings with its Next Level 2.0 tour on November 28.
Riding on the wave of their popular hit Zvichaita Chete (This Year), the group is looking to build on the success of its maiden Bulawayo outing last year, which drew an encouraging response from local
Gospel music lovers and featured South Africa-based Gospel heavyweight Canaan Nyathi.
Beyond the memorable performances, that inaugural show also laid the foundation for a musical partnership that produced the collaborative hit Ngcwele/Mutswene, adding another chapter to The Unveiled’s growing musical journey.
This time around, the group is raising the stakes with a star-studded line-up that brings together some of the country’s established Gospel voices and emerging talent, alongside an international flavour.
The concert will feature Minister Michael Mahendere, Ministers Ellard and Sharon Cherayi and
United Kingdom-based Gospel diva Eleana Makombe.
Bulawayo will also have a strong representation through Lorraine Maplanka, Faith Mucha,
iWorship, Sipho Snowy and Nkosi Herman, whose uJesu Ngiyamthanda has earned him
recognition among Gospel music followers.
For The Unveiled, however, the return to Bulawayo is about more than staging another concert. It is
a homecoming of sorts, driven by the relationship the group has built with audiences in the region.
The group’s publicist Ashley Mapfumo said the reception they received during last year’s debut
made it difficult to imagine taking the latest edition of the tour elsewhere without returning to
Bulawayo.
“To come up with this show, we were inspired by the support we received from the people of
Bulawayo and surrounding areas at our inaugural edition of the Next Level Tour last year. For our
first show, we felt honoured and humbled by such a gesture.
“Bulawayo gave us confidence that we have great support from our own people. It was really a
moment of showing the world that, indeed, a prophet can be honoured in their own home. We are
excited to be coming back to the City of Kings and are looking forward to a great time,” he said.
Mapfumo said the group’s music had found a welcoming audience in the region, with fans
enthusiastically singing along to its songs despite the different languages featured in its repertoire.
That connection, he said, had made Bulawayo an important destination on The Unveiled’s musical
calendar.
The group has also taken a deliberate approach to the selection of performers, ensuring that the
concert is not only about established names but also provides a platform for emerging gospel
artistes to showcase their abilities.
According to Mapfumo, the idea is to create an environment where upcoming musicians can share
the stage with experienced ministers, gaining exposure while giving audiences a diverse musical
experience.
“From Bulawayo, we have Lorraine Maplanka, Faith Mucha, iWorship, Nkosi Herman and Sipho
Snowy. We will also be bringing Minister Ellard, Sharon Cherayi, Minister Michael Mahendere and Eleana Makombe.
“The line-up is a mixture of emerging voices and veterans because we want to give upcoming artistes an opportunity to showcase what they have while learning from the veterans as well. It is also inspired by the need to cater for audiences of all ages,” he said.
With preparations gathering pace, Mapfumo said the organisers were still engaging potential
partners interested in supporting the event.
He added that the audience should expect an evening filled with music from The Unveiled’s latest
album, powerful ministrations from the invited artistes and a few surprise appearances.
With a line-up spanning generations and geographical boundaries, Next Level 2.0 is shaping up to be more than a routine gospel gathering.
For The Unveiled, it is another opportunity to strengthen its bond with Bulawayo while sharing the music and message that have propelled the group into the national spotlight.
