Online Reporter
Zimpapers Entertainment Hub
SEPTEMBER may have arrived with the serious business of getting children back into the classroom but the final schools’ holiday weekend belonged to music lovers who were determined to squeeze in one last dose of fun.
The entertainment calendar certainly played along.
At the centre of it all was the Urban Grooves Festival, which turned nostalgia into a full-blown celebration, bringing together artists who once dominated the playlists of a generation.
The event, held over the weekend, featured Nox, Roki, Plaxcedes Wenyika, Sniper, Mafriq, Tererai Mugwadi, Maskiri and Madiz, among others.
It was a celebration of music, memories and the enduring relationship between artists and the fans who grew up listening to them.
The venue was packed with a largely mature crowd, many of whom had come specifically to relive the music of their younger years.
Once the performances began, the atmosphere quickly turned into one massive sing-along.
Fans knew the lyrics, remembered the melodies and responded enthusiastically to songs that have remained part of Zimbabwe’s musical memory.
It was almost as if the years had been rolled back.
The audience had grown older, but the music had not lost its emotional pull.
Plaxcedeswas among those who received a warm reception, reminding fans of the strong female presence that helped shape the Urban Grooves era.
Mafriq also tapped into the nostalgia, with their familiar sound immediately connecting with the audience.
Nox brought his own dosage of nostalgia while Tererai Mugwadi, Maskiri and Madiz added further colour to a line-up designed to appeal to fans of the golden era.
Then came Roki, whose performance was arguably one of the evening’s talking points.
The artist has endured his fair share of controversy over the years, but when it comes to musical ability, Roki remains a formidable performer.
On stage, he demonstrated the charisma and talent that made him one of the most recognisable figures of the Urban Grooves generation.
Whatever debate may surround his personal life, his performance reminded the audience why his music has remained relevant.
The crowd sang along and gave him the reception expected of a star whose songs have become part of their memories.
The success of the festival also offered an important lesson for Zimbabwe’s entertainment industry.
Urban Grooves is no longer simply a musical genre associated with young people.
Its original audience has grown up.
They are now parents, professionals and businesspeople – but they still have an emotional connection to the music of their youth.
That creates a potentially lucrative market for promoters willing to curate events that speak directly to mature audiences.
The festival demonstrated that nostalgia, when combined with quality performances and good production, can still fill a venue.
It also showed the value of giving established artists an opportunity to reconnect with audiences that may not necessarily attend every contemporary music event.
One visibly excited fan summed up the mood of the night, saying:
“This was more than just a concert; it was a trip down memory lane.
“Hearing these songs live again brought back so many memories.
“For a moment, it felt like we were young again.”
