adminBongani Ndlovu Showbiz Correspondent
THE advent of social media like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram has created a buzz for news about celebrities. People share information about their favourite celebrities on their lives, what they are wearing, who they are married to or dating – generally what is happening around them.
With knowledge that fans want to follow what is going on in their lives, international celebrities quickly set up accounts dedicated to their fans.
These are called Fan pages on Facebook.
Top of this list is Rihanna who has garnered over 87 million likes followed by Eminem with more than 82 million.
The celebs set up accounts on Facebook and Twitter where they post pictures, videos and the like for their fans. These Facebook accounts are not set up by the superstars but are set up by their publicity teams who are dedicated to use social media to keep in touch with their fans.
They look for fans and connect them to other stories from different media outlets. They also give up-to-date posts so that the celebs are seen and noticed on the newsfeeds of the fans.
When fans interact with celebs’ posts, they will show up on their friends’ newsfeeds. This is the key in gaining new fans.
These Facebook Fan pages have been the in-thing for a long time in the world and some Zimbabwean celebs have also joined the global trend.
However, of late there has been a sharp increase by Zimbabwean celebs setting up Facebook Fan pages where they can do the same thing as their international counterparts.
These pages have offered the artistes free advertising space for their shows and gigs and also tell their fans about the goings on in their lives.
Artistes such as Oliver Mtukudzi, Winky D, Cynthia Mare, Jeys Marabini, Mbo Mahocs, Black Umfolosi, Alick Macheso, to mention a few, have set up fan pages that are mostly updated with tour information and where they would be during the weekend.
However, some have not caught on and it is surprising judging by the fact that setting up a page is simple and doesn’t take hours.
The fan page gives the illusion that someone is friends with the superstar and can be engrossed in their lives unlike a Facebook personal page.
Idol Oliver Mtukudzi is on top in terms of being followed or liked on Facebook with over 100,000 likes due to his popularity worldwide.
Self-proclaimed King of Zim dance hall Wallace Chirumiko aka Winky D comes in a close second with about 9,000 likes less than Mtukudzi.
Here are the top 10 celebs in Zim with their likes.
1. Oliver Mtukudzi 119,590 likes
2. Winky D 112,497 likes
3. Mai Chisamba 26,133 likes
4. Pokello Nare and Elikem 20,431 likes
5. Alick Macheso 18,733 likes
6. Suluman Chimbetu 18,701 likes
7. Thomas Mapfumo 17,770 likes
8. Peter Dewa Moyo 11,598 likes
9. Makosi Musambasi 10,796 likes
10. Jah Prayzah 9,179 likes
Other artistes include Cynthia Mare 5,790 likes, Inkululeko Yabatsha School of Arts (Iyasa) 2,798 likes, Carl Joshua Ncube 2,607 likes, Ba Shupi 2,131 likes, Dudu Manhenga 1,966 likes, Mbo Mahocs 1,786, Bongani Dhlakama 586 likes, Black Umfolosi 376 likes, Selmor Mtukudzi 582 likes, Jeys Marabini 984 likes and Clive Chigubu 839 likes.
Online Reporter