Online Reporter
Maria Chiguvari, Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
Today is D-day for musician Feli Nandi who is embracing the fear, pressure and excitement surrounding her ambitious bid to fill the 4 500-seater Harare International Conference Centre (HICC).
The singer is set to headline A Night with Feli Nandi – Fill Up HICC tonight, a major milestone that she describes as one of the biggest challenges of her career.
Earlier this week, Feli gave fans a glimpse into the nerves behind the ambitious concert, joking about the moment when the reality of filling the massive venue began to sink in.
“Ever made a decision in your camp and as fear starts setting in, you start asking yourselves, ‘whose idea was this of us filling up the HICC?’ And then no one answers. That’s where we are now. Everyone in the camp is not answering this question,” she shared.
The award-winning musician, however, is determined to turn the anxiety into motivation.
“My emotions are everywhere. I have mixed feelings. This is something that we’ve never done. Am I scared? Of course I am. But the only way to grow is to get out of your comfort zone. I look at this as a challenge because I’m also challenging myself. This is bigger than me.”
The concert comes after Feli wrapped up her Road to Fill Up HICC tour, which took her to Mutare, Masvingo, Gweru,
Chegutu and Bulawayo, with the shows drawing strong crowds. For the musician, the response has provided a much-needed confidence boost ahead of today’s make-or-break moment.
“We were scared. We didn’t know if people were going to support us, but we’ve been getting amazing support. Whether we fill it or not, the bold step of wanting to do it, I think for me that’s a win,” she said.
Feli has previously filled the 7 Arts Theatre, which has a capacity of up to 1 300 people, but stepping onto the HICC stage represents a significantly bigger challenge.
Fans can expect a celebration of her musical journey, with the singer promising live performances of her previous collaborations as well as new material.
“I have a collaboration with a few female artistes. I also have a collaboration with a hip-hop artiste. I don’t want to name her because I think she wants it to be a surprise,” she added.
Adding to the excitement is a strong supporting line-up featuring ExQ, Baba Harare, Tamy Moyo, Mwenje Mathole, Victor Kunonga, Kurai Makore, Fusion 5 Mangwiro and the InTotal Band. The event will be hosted by media personalities KVG and Tariro Gezi.
For InTotal Band, sharing the stage with Feli is particularly significant. Band member Ndomzi said the group has previously performed with the singer in the United Kingdom and is excited to celebrate her music on home soil.
“As InTotal Band, we promise the best so people should come in their numbers. We’ll take them way back in time. We’ve had a chance to perform with Feli several times and it’s beautiful to actually now celebrate her music together with her.”
Feli revealed that fellow musician Jah Prayzah will not be able to perform at the concert because he has a show in Beitbridge, but will nevertheless be supporting her from afar. The concert will also be recorded for a live DVD.
Beyond the music, Feli’s concert carries wider significance for female musicians seeking to establish themselves as headline acts at Zimbabwe’s biggest venues. The HICC has traditionally been associated with major concerts headlined by established male artistes and large multi-genre events. The late Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi regularly commanded large audiences at the venue, while Winky D has made it a key destination for his major New Year’s Eve shows.
Zimbabwe has, however, produced generations of influential female musicians, from Stella Chiweshe and Chiwoniso Maraire to Fungisai Zvakavapano and Ammara Brown. Despite this rich history, female artistes have often faced greater challenges in securing major sponsorships, prime performance slots and sustained commercial visibility, with many appearing as supporting acts or co-headliners rather than carrying major arena-sized concerts on their own.
Feli’s HICC bid therefore represents more than a personal career milestone. It is also a statement of confidence in the ability of female musicians to command the country’s biggest stages as headline acts.
For Feli, however, the immediate focus is simple: getting her audience through the doors and giving them a night to remember.
“I want you to know that no matter what happens on Friday, thank you so much for all the support that you keep giving us. Thank you for supporting the dream, thank you for supporting the journey. I cannot wait to see you on Friday and have a beautiful night.”
