admin
Yeukai Karengezeka Entertainment Reporter
AFTER staging sold-out concerts in the United Kingdom, celebrated choral group ZimPraise has landed in Dubai for tonight’s concert at Alnoor Training Centre.
The concert is part of the gospel group’s Sungano/Covenant International tour.
ZimPraise chief executive Joseph Madziyire confirmed the show and said it was their last international assignment this year.
“We received a lot of invitations from our fans in Dubai so we decided to embrace their request and we promise to give them a polished act since we are expecting a huge turnout.
“We will be performing together with the veteran gospel musician Pastor Stanley Gwanzura and rising gospel star Tembalami Tagwirei will spice up the show. It will be an exclusive night of praise and worship,” he said.
ZimPraise staged two successful shows in Birmingham and another at the Dunstable Conference Centre in Luton where the choir left the audience begging for more.
According to reports, the star-studded gospel outfit exceeded expectations as the choir delivered a performance that was “nothing short of international standard”.
“Many people who attended the concerts said what they saw on the previous ZimPraise DVDs did not do justice to the level of perfection they saw live on stage. The choir performed for four hours non-stop in dance and praise. The ZimPraise Choir undoubtedly gave a very splendid performance with two celebrated Zimbabwean artistes Pastor G and Tembalami Praise who all thrilled the audience,” the report said.
“Scores of people were turned away as the venue became too small. In attendance there were very prominent Zimbabwean UK-based top officials, church bishops and musicians collectively. Award-winning UK gospel artiste Muyiwa of Riversongs surprised the audience after he joined ZimPraise choir on stage.”
According to Madziyire, who organised the tour, the concerts were sold out due to rigorous marketing by promoter and event co-ordinator Blessed Kapesa.
“It was our first tour of the UK and it was good that all the tickets were sold and some people were turned away at the doors as the venue had been filled to the rafters. I believe that for our next tour we should take it to the O2 arena.
“Moments before the concerts we were worried that the health and safety authorities would close down our show because of the big crowd that turned up, but thank God everything went well. I am still in shock with the response the choir got from fans. I have been receiving lots of calls and emails from fans regarding the shows, but as a team we are thankful to God for taking us this far.
“We are happy because of the progress we have made so far because our mission is to unite nations through worship and we have succeeded in that regard.
“Therefore, as part of our 2014 plans we will be touring more countries to fully achieve our mission.”
The choir is riding high with the song “Sungano” which is topping charts on most stations in Zimbabwe. “Sungano” is off the choir’s sixth live DVD titled “It’s All About Jesus”. ZimPraise recently released a new DVD featuring Lawrence Haisa and Mathias Mhere among other top singers.
ZimPraise has been in existence for the past decade under the watchful eye of the award- winning producer McDonald “McDee” Chidavaenzi and Madziyire.
Their first project featured a number of now well known gospel musicians including Pastor G, Gordon Taurai Nzira, Bethen Pasinawako and many others.
Online Reporter