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Joel Tsvakwi, Sunday Life Correspondent
BULAWAYO’S up-and-coming artistes ganged up in Pumula Old recently belting out their best tunes, amid revelations that they cannot continue to be cry babies in as far as marketing their music is concerned.
In an event dubbed Umculo Wabantu at Isilwane Youth Centre last Saturday music lovers braved the chilly whether to witness the first ever family fun show spewed by purely up and coming ghetto artistes.
The event was meant to showcase the untapped talent of various artistes in and around Pumula suburbs. Event organiser, author-cum-Zim dancehall artiste, Taremeredzwa Kwangwari fondly known as The True Defender, said attention seeking is what made him and his kith and kin in the music industry to come up with the idea of such kind of gig.
“The main aim was to unite upcoming artistes and as we have common challenges like lack of enough airplay in local radio stations, so to counter that we have decided to hold free shows and bring our music to the community starting, in Pumula Old where most us come from,” Kwangwari said.
The event saw 12 artistes belting their best in a fusion of different genres. Present were artistes The True Defender, Mkwasha Styles, BaPlacky, Lexus, Ma9nine, Scuddy B, Advancer Lyon, Scyla Vega, Young Reezy, Might Sharks, Mlamuli Ncube and many others.
Residents welcomed this musical gig as it brings about burgeoning talent largely unrecognised among high-density youths.
Another music enthusiast identified as Mac Bhebhe hailed the event saying such initiatives by youths should be accorded the support it deserves.
“We hope this is going to be an annual event, especially in the high-density areas where most of us can afford as opposed to expensive billed shows in the city,” recounted Bhebhe.
Kwangwari revealed that despite the success of the show they had their fair share of challenges.
“We obviously don’t have financial support to hire instruments and other payments to host the event, also lack of necessary sound system among other needs. As such we are appealing to well wishers and the corporate world to come to our rescue as we envision moving from one suburb to another in trying to market the Umculo Wabantu,” he said.
He added: “We would like to thank Mr Godfrey Malaba for helping us to make the show a reality, indeed if we have more of such elderly people who are interested in promoting us the up-and-coming artistes the music industry is not going to be the same.”
@joelTsvakwi
Online Reporter