Tehn Diamond

Nhlalwenhle Ngwenya
AS part of efforts to take hip-hop to the people, rapper Tendai Nguni, aka Tehn Diamond, has embarked on a national tour to promote his latest offering – A Few Good Poems.

The tour that kicked off in Harare last month will see the rapper performing in Gweru at Club Eclipse on Friday followed by a performance in Bulawayo at Club Connect on Saturday.

For the Bulawayo leg of the tour dubbed “Tehn Outta Ten Tour”, the rapper will be joined by Ammara Brown, Simba Tagz, Thaiwanda Thai, Zimboy, Vanilla, Asaph, POY, Mlue Jay and Boss Chenge.

Those who want to get close-up with Tehn Diamond and his entourage will have to part with $10 for a meet and greet session at Club Connect. Entry into the venue has been pegged at $3.

Tehn said he wanted to showcase his wordsmith skills in 10 cities in Zimbabwe as he promotes his new album released online last month.

“Tehn Outta Ten Tour is a unique tour, probably the first in the local hip-hop circle. The tour is all about taking music to the people at the same time interacting with them,” said Tehn.

“If we can manage to get our people to support the hip hop genre, it then becomes easy to export it outside the country’s borders.”

Like any modern hip-hop entrepreneur, Tehn Diamond said he would use the tour to promote his Tisu Ngoda Dzacho clothing label which he described as a cultural movement.

The Happy hit-maker said Bulawayo fans needed to look out for his two new singles, No Stress and One Day which were doing good.

So far Tehn has toured Harare, Marondera and Mutare. Next week Friday he heads to Zvishavane for a performance at Liquid Night Club then Masvingo the next day at Caravan Park. He concludes the tour on March 25 in Chitungwiza.

Meanwhile, Club Connect introduces Karaoke Wednesday’s at their spot tonight. The Karaoke night will be hosted by DJs Zet, Kead Wikead, Prince Eskhosini and Crazy Black with patrons expected to sing their lungs out.

Showbiz Reporter
MANAGEMENT at Club 263 in Bulawayo has described the incident where pepper-spray was unleashed at their nightspot by unknown assailants at the weekend as an act of sabotage.

Investigations on what really transpired on Friday night are still underway.

As people packed and partied in the club with some trying to get in, someone on the dancefloor sprayed the chemical that is usually used for policing, riot and crowd control. This affected revellers as they started coughing and had teary eyes.

A stampede soon ensued as people scurried for cover, forcing security details to force open another door which was not functional. Though there were no casualties, the joint had to be closed instantly as a result of the fracas.

The club’s spokesperson, Tinashe Zekiya, said: “Preliminary investigations show it was a planned act of sabotage. We’re worried because this is not the way to compete.

“It’s dangerous to the public and the arts industry. We don’t grow the industry by making nightlife unsafe. In the end, it affects everyone including the perpetrators”.

Zekiya said as a result of the incident, the club has upped its security and is working on installing features which will monitor all movements in the club.

“We’ve taken action to improve security of both our patrons and employees. We’ll continue to engage in fair competition based on a good product, the right vibe and the best prices.”

The club’s management has further assured its patrons of safety.

“We assure everyone that Club 263 will remain a very safe place to be and want to thank our employees and security for a job well done in preventing casualties on the night,” said Zekiya.

With less than a year of operating, Club 263 — which opened its doors in August last year at what used to be Cloud Nine — has positioned itself as one of the leading nightspots in the city because of its diverse entertainment schedule. The club is set to spread its wings and set up another shop with the same vibe in Harare later this   month.

Showbiz Reporter
A NEW upmarket pub – Vintage Shisha Bar – has set its sights on reviving the jazz music scene in Bulawayo.

Formerly Exchange Bar (along Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo between Leopold Takawira and 6th Avenue), the joint officially launches this weekend with performances from a host of jazz musicians who are yet to be unveiled.

The launch will be a two part series that will first feature jazz entertainers tomorrow evening. On Saturday, entertainment at the bar will be spiced up by sought-after tribal house trio – Djembe Monks.

Rejoice Mafukidze, the Shisha Bar proprietor, said she had opened the spot to revive local jazz music.

“Vintage Bar has been rebranded and will be specialising in jazz music. Our style is to honour the mature jazz lover and host them in a tranquil space that appeals to the older urbanite. The bar will certainly change the way live music is consumed in Bulawayo,” said Mafukidze.

“We revamped the place and put in new, eye catching designs that are both vintage and contemporary.”

She said they would keep the feel of the bar (Exchange) that was opened in the 1900s.

“With this bar, we want to highlight how it used to be back in the 1900s and what it is now. We’ve preserved its historical outlook with a dash of modern designs and service. Patrons and musicians will certainly be awestruck with what Vintage Shisha Bar has to offer.”

The proprietor revealed plans to host veteran jazzman, Tanga wekwaSando later this month.

Vintage Shisha Bar is the second pub of its kind to open in Bulawayo after Backroom Shisa in Bradfield.

Showbiz Reporter
Zimdancehall musician Killer T has inspired a new craze called “you are not ugly, you’re just broke” on social media.

The craze which is now being used positively by many to reflect on their life journeys began after Killer T posted an image of himself looking very clean as if he had had a makeover. He was applauded by most followers who were quick to pull out his old images to compare them with the recent image. The difference was noticeable as the Mbare-bred musician has undoubtedly cleaned up well over the years.

As a result, a meme of Killer T’s old and new picture was created and started circulating. The picture was captioned, “you are not ugly but just broke”. From there, people have been looking for their old pictures as well as those of their favourite celebrities to join in on the fun by creating memes.

Other celebrities who had memes created from their pictures are Tanzania’s Diamond Platnumz and Nigeria’s Davido – who like Killer T have cleaned up well over the years.

Mzoe 7 and Sandra Ndebele

Showbiz Reporter
DANCER-cum-singer Sandra Ndebele is back with a bang with the release of a spanking new Afro pop track with a house feel that promises to tear up dance floors around the country.

The song titled Ingoma was released yesterday on Skyz Metro FM during the Vuka Vuka Breakfast show. It features Mzoe 7 and was produced in Harare by award-winning producer Oskid.

With a chorus, “Kuti ngoma ingoma, Ukuthi ngoma yingoma, Kuti ngoma yingoma, Yekel’ingoma . . .” the song has many meanings to it, something Sandy said was left for the listener to interpret.

“Ingoma can mean a song, drug or drum in Shona. It has a lot of meanings so people can choose what’s relevant to them at a particular time as I sing saying “yekela ingoma” which can be translated as leave my song to play/ let my drum play/ don’t take drugs.”

Sandy, as the musician is affectionately known, said the song would also be featured on her forthcoming eighth album.

“Sandra Ndebele is back and those who follow my music will likely enjoy the song. The song will be track one on my album that’ll be released in November. Oskid did justice to the song and I’m impressed,” said Sandy.

“Monthly, I’ll be releasing a single from the album until November.”

The track will be launched in Harare today and tomorrow on the national radio stations.

“I’m launching the song at National FM, Star FM, Radio Zimbabwe and ZiFM as I want it to reach as many people as possible.”

The song’s video will also be released on YouTube today on the artiste’s YouTube account – Sandra Ndebele.

“The music video is out of this world. It was directed and edited by award-winning Andy Cutta. People can watch it on my YouTube account and the link will be available on my social media pages tomorrow,” she said.

Next week, Sandy takes the track to local bars.

“We’ve organised with Babongile Sikhonjwa and Mzoe 7 to do flash mobs. We’ll be going around bars in Bulawayo to promote the track. More details about the clubs we’ll patronise will be revealed soon.”

Her next track that she is set to release soon is Tshibilika which features Afro house musician Leeknotic.

Bongani Ndlovu, Showbiz Correspondent
ONE of the last establishments that houses Jazz music in Bulawayo, Cape to Cairo, is set to be turned into a night club if the latest council resolution is anything to go by.

According to last Wednesday’s full council meeting, the City Fathers resolved to make the home of Jazz music a night club. This came after a proposal made by proprietors of the establishment, Windstraw Enterprises (Pvt) owned by businessman Peter Mubi and Temba Ndlovu last year for an upgrade from a Restaurant Special licence to a Nightclub licence.

This means instead of operating from 10AM to 10PM, the place will now run until 3AM.

Councillors had initially rejected the proposal that was approved by the Town Lands and Planning Committee saying the area had no sound proofing and would be a haven for thieves and other criminal elements to engage in anti social activities.

However, at the full council meeting, the decision was reversed and the proprietors were granted permission to turn it into a night club.

Mubi said they had made the application to cater for their clients who were complaining about the spot’s early closure.

“The licence is a welcome development as we were closing far too early for our clientele. It’s a place for the mature and the closing time of 10PM wasn’t good for business as that was the time that people were now getting into the mood,” said Mubi.

He said they were going to collect the licence at the end of this week and start working on refurbishing the joint to meet the standards of a night club.

The joint will, however, remain a home of jazz music, mainly attracting the mature crowds.

The development, according to Mubi, will also see the joint hosting more live bands.

“The more time we are open, the more people will be drinking and eating from our restaurant meaning there’ll now be more bands performing there.

“We want to nurture raw talent while bringing in big names to the venue once in a while.”

Q Dube

Kiyapili Sibanda, Showbiz Reporter
NATIONAL Arts Merit Awards 2016 outstanding comedian winner, Q Dube, has urged fellow comedians to be patient and not rush things as this affects delivery of jokes to the audience.

He said comedians should avoid stealing jokes by all means as this kills their brands but instead invest in their craft by starting small, studying and maintaining professionalism in their art.

“It took me about four years before I reaped the financial rewards of comedy. The most important thing is to really know your craft and be able to grow with each passing show,” said Q Dube.

“Fellow comedians when given a chance should embrace mainstream media because it’s always relevant and it reaches a wider scope in terms of coverage.

Mainstream media makes one relevant because you’ll be talking to an audience of a different age, race, ethnicity and sex.”

Q Dube said comedy must be turned into a viable business because comedians like Trevor Noah are making a lot money from it adding that the comedy industry in the country should strive to remain profitable despite the economic challenges.

Meanwhile, the first lady of Umahlekisa Comedy Club, Lady D, said she would work extra hard and put more effort into her craft.

“I’ll be working on comedy video clips with fellow comedian Clive Chigubhu. I’m also looking forward to doing more shows outside Bulawayo and working on a full set with other upcoming and established female comedians,” said Lady D.

— @Kiyaz_Cool

Bongani Ndlovu, Showbiz Correspondent
PRAISE poet Albert Nyathi on Wednesday launched a multi-lingual music album and documentary to raise awareness on Gender Based Violence (GBV).

The launch, which coincided with the International Women’s Day celebrations, was held at the American Space in Bulawayo. It was attended by the vice president of the Chiefs Council, Chief Mtshana Khumalo, Bulawayo Mayor Councillor Martin Moyo, Pathisa Nyathi, Jeys Marabini, Matesu Dube, Khuliyo and Novuyo Dube among others.

The album has 17 tracks in over 10 languages including Ndebele, Shona, Chewa, Venda, Xhosa, Kalanga and Tonga. It mainly features up-and-coming artistes from Binga, Mbembesi, Hwange, Gwanda, Beitbridge and Chiredzi.

Nyathi, who is the United Nations Women Gender Champion, said: “The album and documentary produced under the United Nations Women Southern Africa Regional Creative Artists Advisory Council is aimed at engaging artistes to play a role in fighting gender based violence in different languages.”

He said it took two years to work on the album as they first had to coach the artistes.

“Many of them (artistes) were singing off key. So we’d to bring two artistes in the morning per day to teach them on Gender Based Violence and then in the afternoon, take them to the studio to record. Most of the artistes had never been in a studio so we had a lot of work to do,” said Nyathi.

The 50 minute documentary titled, I am, because you are chronicles Nyathi’s journey to find musicians for the album while also raising awareness on GBV and talking to community and political leaders on the subject. It was filmed by Tswarelo Mothobe with Patience Phiri and Nyathi writing the scripts and providing voice overs.

After showing people a two minute trailer at the launch, Nyathi said he hoped the documentary would raise awareness.

“Tswarelo who I roped in to help document what I was doing as I was travelling around the country is the one who suggested that we produce a documentary,” said Nyathi.

The documentary was instantly handed over to the Zimbabwe Gender Commission representatives so that they spread the word.

The artiste, who is famed for hit – Senzeni Na – hopes to work on more productions focusing on ending violence against women as the scourge continues to be a challenge in society.

Nkululeko Nkala

Bongani Ndlovu, Showbiz Correspondent
PLANS to host the Bulawayo Arts Awards (BAA) to recognise and honour artistes from the city and Matabeleland North/ South provinces are underway.

The inaugural awards, if all goes according to plan, will be held at the Large City Hall on June 30.

One of the organisers of the awards, Nkululeko Nkala, said the awards would be launched at the Bulawayo Club next week Wednesday. Details on how one can participate or enter the awards will be unpacked there.

Nkala said artistes would be honoured in 10 categories for Music, Theatre, Dance, Literary Art, Poetry, Comedy, Fashion, Film, Visual Art and Media.

He said they were hosting the awards to recognise efforts made by Bulawayo artistes and those from surrounding provinces.

“The Bulawayo Arts Awards are not meant to counter any awards or forms of recognition in Bulawayo or the country in general, but are meant to complement the efforts that are already being made to recognise and honour artistes from the Matabeleland region,” said Nkala.

The awards come at a time when Bulawayo artistes have been crying foul over the years claiming they were not being recognised at national level. There has been discontentment with regards to the outcomes of national awards including Zima and Nama.

If they come to fruition, the Bulawayo Music Awards will be the second regional awards ceremony following the Midlands Music Awards.

Will Smith gets ready to fly off the Victoria Falls Bridge

HOLLYWOOD A-Lister Will Smith made a surprise visit to the resort town of Victoria Falls yesterday and he couldn’t resist bungee jumping off the Victoria Falls Bridge at the invitation of Shearwater Adventures. And while at it he took a selfie video!

You can watch it below

It is not clear how he sneaked unnoticed into the country, but the word on the street is that the Men in Black star is sleeping over in Zambia.

And he takes off!

Smith, who has been on an African tour in the past days with his family, has flown to Egypt, Tanzania, and Morocco in his private plane.

“This is gonna be a cool shot. This is crazy. Bungee jumping Victoria Falls! I’ve been wanting to do this for almost 20 years!”

The movie star and successful rapper joins a list of notable stars in the world of entertainment and politics who have also sampled the magic of Victoria Falls.

“This is living, this is living right here!”

Professional wrestler, Shawn Michaels, movie star and former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, the late pop icon Michael Jackson, RnB singer Joe Thomas and the legendary R Kelly have visited the Victoria Falls and gone on game drives to see wild animals in their natural habitat

Showbiz Reporter
RAPPER Tehn Diamond says he is unfazed after a life-threatening incident last week when a fan pointed a gun at him during his Tehn Outta Ten Tour in Kadoma.

After his performance at the Odyssey in Kadoma, according to media reports, a visibly drunk unidentified man forcibly entered the VVIP arena and threatened to beat up people before he pounced on Tehn Diamond who was busy taking pictures with fans.

As people pushed and shoved, the man drew a pistol and threatened to shoot the rapper. Fortunately, the gun-toting man quickly fled the scene before the security team could apprehend him leaving Tehn bemused.

Tehn Diamond, who will be in Bulawayo at Club Connect tonight, said the incident had not affected his tour as everything was going according to plan adding that he was looking forward to his performance in the City of Kings.

“Aside from one overzealous and inebriated fan after the show, we loved Kadoma and we’ll definitely perform there again soon. For now, the show must go on and the #TehnOuttaTenTour finds itself in Bulawayo on Saturday,” said Tehn Diamond.

The artiste is using the tour to promote his latest album, A Few Good Poems. He has been touring with Harare’s Ammara Brown, Simba Tagz and Thaiwanda Thai and in Bulawayo he will be joined by POY, Mluejay, ASAPH and Boss Chenge.

He said the tour had taught him to do away with working alone but rather with others in order to achieve more results.

“I’ve always wanted to be self-sufficient and able to push myself forward. But that’s not how life works. We’re all born defenceless and as a result, dependent. I’ve learnt the hard way that the real goal is co-dependence.

“Your team, circle and squad matter more than anything. And if you build that tribe right, you’ll go further than you ever could have imagined alone. Don’t be afraid to lean on the right shoulders for strength. Don’t be afraid to call on the right members of your team for help. When you trust your team, it has to show in your actions,” said Tehn, probably grateful to fellow musicians he has toured with thus far for the success of the tour.

Pattern and Style, Yoliswa Dube

I WAS having my toe nails done at the salon the other day when a lady selling nail polish, lipstick, face powder, foundation and concealer came to my pedicurists work station to advertise her products.

I was interested in seeing what she had because I’d been looking for red matte lipstick for a while.

I can’t seem to get the perfect shade of red so I haven’t settled for any quite yet.

So as this lady was showing my pedicurist, Sammy, her products, she kept going on and on about how her stock had diminished and if Sammy didn’t pick anything — she would have to wait a long time until her next order.

This woman’s products must be greatly sought after, I thought. Perhaps this was going to be my godsend, the person who would have the perfect red matte lipstick for me.

I got the shock of my life when I asked how much the lipsticks cost to begin with. Wait for it. They cost $1! I honestly couldn’t believe it. Just $1 for lipstick!

Call me corky but I’ve often part with not less than $20 for a good quality lipstick. And to think this lady was $19 cheaper was unbelievable! While I was still in a state of shock, some ladies in the salon had started going through the merchandise to see if there was anything they liked.

Some literally hoarded lipstick upon nail polish upon face powder — I just couldn’t believe it! Of course this lady is trying to earn a decent living but please don’t complain about dry, chapped lips after using that $1 lipstick.

Stop complaining to your friends about regular break-outs on your face — they were not there when you were buying that $3 face powder. Of course buying a $100 product doesn’t guarantee that your skin won’t react to it, but if it does, you’ll know exactly what went into the product and it’ll be easier to trace what you’re allergic to unlike these imitation $1 deals whose specifications are not clearly stated. God knows what chemicals you’re subjecting your skin to!

No wonder why it’s hardly even-toned.

Be very careful about the products you choose to apply on your skin. Be very specific. Choose brands that are dermatologically tested and make it a point to check the reverse label for what went into the product.

Try by all means to purchase your cosmetics from reputable dealers such as departmental stores, supermarkets or pharmacies. I know the $1 price tag can be tempting but think of the long term. Think about the investment you’re making by purchasing a genuine product of anything.

It will do a better job at taking care of your face and lips than products that cost 99 percent cheaper than the original.

If there’s anything I’ve learnt over the years is to be extra careful with my skin. I realise that a moment of madness can cost me a couple of weeks of misery.

Squeezing and nursing pimples is no fun. Trust me, I know.

I’d rather apply Vaseline on my lips to keep them plump and moist instead of settling for a $1 lipstick that will deprive them of moisture, making them dry and flaky.

That’s the worst. Flaky lips are just unsightly.

Women have varied reasons for wearing make-up and there’s really nothing wrong with that.

Just don’t settle for cheap products that will degenerate your skin. Even when you go for the genuine products, never take your skin for granted. Don’t be lazy to wash your face after a day with make-up on. Don’t go to bed with it. If left on, make-up clogs your pores and causes blemishes. Be good to your skin and believe me, it will be good to you.

Feedback from “#NAMAzw…The good, the bad, the ugly”

I loved, loved, LOVED your article Yoliswa. Our entertainment industry will never reach its full potential until every stakeholder steps up!! If an opportunity to host a show ingangonzi Pattern & Style — The ZimFiles lol do give a sister a ring! — Amanda.

Sandra killed it, did you hear the screams when she hit the stage to present an award. — Mthabisi Innocent Marapini.

Good article; the problem with these artists is that they don’t have image managers. —  Bongani

In as much as everyone is entitled to an opinion, I respect yours. But I guess if you had watched the South African Music Awards you would have ten pages to write about people’s dress codes. — Mirror Mirror.

I totally agree MaDube. As a fashion blogger you have the right to write. Don’t stop. But how do you write a review ngamaNAMA ungikhohlwe shuwa. — Charlene.

Until next week, flaunt your pattern and style and don’t forget to catch up with me on Twitter handle @Yolisswa, visit my blog, www.stayera247.blogspot.com or like my Facebook page Pattern & Style.

The Queen is one of the most watched programmes on DStv’s Mzansi Magic

Showbiz Reporter
MultiChoice Africa has announced that there will be no price increase for its DStv service for all customers in Zimbabwe.

Lovemore Mangwende, MultiChoice Zimbabwe managing director yesterday said a decision had been made to keep subscription rates at current levels.

“There’ve been a number of external economic factors that have challenged MultiChoice Africa from falling commodity and oil prices which affected economies and exchange rates; and the ever-rising cost of satellite usage.

“However, it had been recognised that we’re not the only ones feeling the pinch and that customers are also suffering, so the relief provided by not increasing the price of subscriptions is great news for Zimbabwean subscribers in particular,” said Mangwende.

He said efforts were being made to ensure customers get value from their subscription.

“One of the most popular football competitions in the world, the FA Cup, has been extended without cost to subscribers to all DStv packages.

“Pop-up channels such as the recent James Bond festival are being included among the exciting, world-class programming that viewers continue to enjoy.

Other added-value initiatives will continue to be offered in months and years ahead,” said Mangwende.

The DStv platform offers subscribers a unique selection of the best in local and international television entertainment on a range of bouquets, including DStv Premium, DStv Compact Plus, DStv Compact, DStv Family and DStv Access, which are available at varying pricing levels to allow subscribers flexibility in price and choice without compromising quality.

Trevor Noah

SA-born comedian Trevor Noah has added yet another feather to his cap as The Daily Show attracts a record number of viewers since he took over the reins 17 months ago.

According to US audience measurement system The Nielsen Company, The Daily Show managed to attract over 1.5 million viewers in February. The number was up 17 percent from the year before.

The figure was the highest number of viewers the show attracted since Trevor took over as the host in September 2015.

“February was The Daily Show’s most-watched and highest-rated month ever among total viewers. It continues to dominate among Comedy Central’s core, key millennial audience, finishing February as the most-watched and highest-rated daily late night talk show among all millennials,” Comedy Central said in a statement.

The Daily Show faced sharp declines among traditional TV audiences in the first few months of Trevor taking over the show, but according to Comedy Central it has seen steady growth over the last few months, especially among digital audiences where it recorded a growth of over 42 percent in one year.

It added that the increase in viewers apparently made The Daily Show, the only late night show to record year-over-year growth.

The channel further claimed that the talk show was one of the most popular in the US and gained over six million engagements on its social media accounts in February alone.

The spike in viewership comes just days after Trevor Noah covered the latest issue of Time Magazine and was hailed by the publication as a “next generation leader”.

“Since his debut in 2015, the South African comedian has more than doubled the show’s international reach and he has now become the master of the eloquent Trump-takedown,” said TIME on Instagram.

Last week news broke that Trevor had purchased a New York apartment for over R130 million.

— TimesLive

Bruce Ndlovu
WHILE it has always been one of those tourist attractions that, on any given day, are always teeming with visitors from across the globe, Victoria Falls has never been known for possessing a particularly exciting nightlife.

Being a resort town, the pace with which life moves in Victoria Falls is leisurely and the nights are as calm and incident free as the days are. If one expects tourists and sightseers who calmly walk the streets in the day, taking in some of the world’s most wondrous sights and sounds, to transform into party animals by night they would be sadly mistaken.

Except for the last three days of every year when the Victoria Falls Carnival rolls into town, hard partying is not something that comes naturally to the town. This is mainly due to the fact that the town has a limited number of nightspots, with no major clubs at all in the town centre.

However, a pair of Victoria Falls natives is looking to change this. Club Nitrus, founded by the duo of Sam Sibanda and Kudakwashe Mataga, is set to make its debut on March 17 when it opens its doors to the public.

While the club itself is new, the two men behind it are not novices, having run the now defunct Explorers Night Club. Their experience at the helm of Explorers has left them with the belief that they know what it takes to make Victoria Falls come out to play.

“We’re not new to this and that’s why we believe that Club Nitrus will be a success. This is a new club, but this is familiar terrain for us,” said Sibanda, one of the founders of the new joint.

Despite perceptions that Victoria Falls is an expensive town, Sam said the club would not be looking to woo society’s elite only. In a town that people can be divided between the haves and have-nots, Nitrus will try to be the middle ground where everyone from all spheres of society can come together to enjoy a fun night out.

“We don’t want to cater for the elite, but at the same time we also don’t want to cater for unruly elements. What we want to do with Club Nitrus is to present an environment where everyone can come and enjoy a fun and peaceful night out,” he said.

Like other towns around Zimbabwe, Victoria Falls has seen a high turnover of clubs, with joints opening and closing all the time. As a new baby on the town’s night scene, Club Nitrus is determined to go the distance this time around.

“We’re going to be occupying a unique position because as you well know, Victoria Falls hardly has any clubs and this is not because people don’t want to go out. We’re trying to change that perception and the advantage that we have this time is that the club is well situated,” he said.

Club Nitrus will be situated at what used to be Croc Rock, a once popular club run by Peter Mubi, the current proprietor of Bulawayo’s Cape to Cairo.

Sibanda said the joint would not dwell on the shadow of its predecessor, which dominated at the turn of the century, but instead would endeavour to chart its own history and create a new and exciting atmosphere for revellers.

However, despite all his positivity, Sibanda is aware of some problems that stunt the growth of nightspots whenever they begin operating in the resort town.

“The reasons why there’re few clubs and why those that are operating can just close suddenly are different and varied. The problems mostly come from the fact that we rent or lease whatever buildings we operate from and you can’t do anything once the owners decide to do something else with their property.

“For example, we had to close down Explorers after the owner told us he wanted to renovate the place,” he said.

Turning to the launch, Sibanda said they were still in the process of compiling a roster of artistes whose presence would truly underline the fact that a new wonder has been born in a town filled with them. However, despite the fact that the official opening was slated for next Friday, Sibanda said the joint might open next Wednesday for a trial run.

Charma Gal

ONE of Botswana’s most celebrated divas, Charma Gal is planning a great come-back for 2017 and will work with the legendary Oliver Mtukudzi on her new project.

The former Culture Spears lead singer did not release any album in 2016 following a hard time after five of her dancers perished in a car accident while travelling from a performance in Ghanzi.

According to her manager, Resego Matenge, they have made several trips to meet with the Zimbabwean superstar and the deal is on.

“Right now everything is on hold because we are waiting for Tuku who is currently in the UK,” said Matenge.

He told WeekendLife that this is work in progress and they are hoping to finalise with Mtukudzi. Should the Sekuta hit- maker manage the deal she will become the second artist from Southern Africa to have collaborated with Mtukudzi after the South African, Ringo Madlingozi.

Tuku is considered Zimbabwe’s most renowned and internationally recognised cultural icon of all time. With his husky voice, he has become the most recognised voice to emerge from Zimbabwe and onto the international scene and he has earned a devoted following across Africa and beyond.

The mega star will be collaborating with Charma Gal on one song which will feature in the new album which is due to be released very soon. According to Matenge the album is almost done.

However, he could not share more details but confirmed that negotiations with Mtukudzi are at an advanced stage.

He said Charma Gal also featured Jah Prayzah in the same album. The two have collaborated before in a hit, Dali Wangu, which was a favourite both in Zimbabwe and Botswana.

Matenge said the reason they are working with Zimbabwean artists is that Charma Gal’s beats and rhythm are more like the Zimbabwean dancehall. The album is expected to be a hit and will signal the return of Charma Gal after she suffered a blow in her career last year.

Matenge said they have already replaced the dancers and they have tried to deal with the situation even though it was not easy.

The revamped Charma Gal’s riveting last offering which was playing in every car, bar, crib and cafe featured kwasa-kwasa sounds, and was perhaps the best of the Eke Ntolo founder’s talent unleashed. — NewZimbabwe.

Nathi Mankayi

Afro-soul singer Nathi and his band were robbed of their valuables at gunpoint in the early hours of yesterday morning.

They had just landed from Gabon where they were performing as part of a Department of Arts and Culture delegation.

According to a source it seems like Nathi and his band were robbed by the notorious syndicate that follows unsuspecting people from O R Tambo.

‘Nathi and his band were driving to Auckland Park and they had to drop the keyboard player at the Milpark Flats when the robbers who seemed to have been driving behind them struck. They got out of a huge BMW X5 carrying guns and they instructed everyone in the car to hand over their valuables,’ said our source.

The source said after realising that one of the people that they had just robbed was Nathi of Nomvula fame, they decided to give it back to him.

‘This is so annoying and inconveniencing. Can you imagine that you have just come back from a foreign country where you were treated like royalty and you get robbed in your own country as soon as you land? said the mole.—Daily Sun.

Ammara Brown on stage at Club Connect on Saturday night (Picture by SaDee Lens Works)

Bongani Ndlovu, Showbiz Correspondent
SCORES of music fans in Bulawayo, mostly men, were left spellbound when queen of Mukoko, Ammara Brown, captivated them with her alluring voice adding to her growing fan base she calls the Ammartians.

Ammara was performing as part of the Tehn Outta Ten tour; by Tehn Diamond at Club Connect on Saturday night.

Before the show, men were excited and impatient as they could not wait to see her on stage and with each instance DJs in the club would ask the crowd if they were ready for Ammara they would scream at the top of their voices a resounding YES!

So in between performances by artistes, the first being Bulawayo’s The Boy ASAPH, who got the singing along to his hit track Why won’t you act like you know, they would scream, “We want Ammara!”

After ASAPH, Tehn Diamond came on stage with Simba Tagz and took fans on a musical trip from his first hits Happy and Realest to some songs from his latest album A Few Good Poems such as No Stress featuring Thaiwanda Thai, Bho Tsano and Give Thanks featuring Simba Tagz.

However, the crowd had become restless.  When Thaiwanda Thai took over and after one song those in the crowd started shouting “Ammara, Ammara, Ammara,” as they could not wait to see her on stage.

Without hesitation, Ammara made her way to the stage clad in a bottle green jump suit and was greeted with a rapturous applause.

Most of the cheers were from men who pushed and shoved each other to get a better view of the pint-sized vixen.

Not wasting time Ammara started her performance with the song Owami she collaborated with South Africa’s Zinhle Ngidi and Sizwe Ngubane, last year at the Coke Studio. Every dance move was greeted by wild cheers and those in the front were continually reaching over to her to get a touch of her hand.

Seamlessly singing the parts of Ngidi and hers, Ammara also gave fans a chance to sing along to the groovy song produced by Mobi Dixon.

The highlight of the night was when she performed Bachura and two fans joined her on stage to sing XQ’s parts.

However the first fan, who spotted a ginger dreadlock, knew only a bit of the parts and was asked to go back to the crowd. He was quickly substituted by one who went by the name Clod and knew all the XQ parts. His mates in the crowd looked on, green with envy as he got to dance with Ammara. He left the stage overjoyed and received a hero’s welcome from his friends and he lapped up his five minutes of fame. Thereafter she performed Watchu Want, a song she did with her sister Chengeto.

Ammara ended her performance with Mukoko, a song she collaborated with Tytan Skhokho, which all and sundry had been waiting for. She had to sing it twice as the crowd requested her to return on stage.

When Ammara left people started trickling out, but the performances had not finished as POY jumped on. He tried his best to get the crowd jumping up and down to his music but after a high octane performance, fans were already tired and it was already 3AM.

@bonganinkunzi

Kiyapili Sibanda, Showbiz Reporter
MASILELA Leisure Centre in Luveve suburb was brought to life at the weekend when Friends Band put up a spirited performance much to the excitement of revellers.

Friends Band took revellers down memory lane during a three-hour session where they performed old school tunes on Saturday afternoon.

The highlight of the day was when the band performed hit song Umoya Wami, originally done by Lovemore Majaivana. Some of the patrons ended up joining the band on stage as they reminisced about the good old days.

Lead vocalist Zinzile Majola said she was surprised by the response they got from revellers.

“The response was encouraging. I was really surprised by the engagement with the crowd as I wasn’t expecting this kind of response as people showed us that they loved our performance,” Majola said.

Ebbar Chitambo, the band’s manager, said this was their first time performing in the high density suburbs as they are used to performing at hotels in the city.

“We were motivated by the crowd at Masilela as they appreciated the type of music we performed. The atmosphere was good and the revellers really enjoyed the performance,” said Chitambo.

A reveller identified as Marufu said he was impressed by the songs performed by the band while Gabriel Nkomazana said bringing top bands like Friends Band was a good initiative which could be used to bring life to townships.

Masilela Leisure Centre manager, Princess Ncube, said the main aim of bringing the band was to liven up high density areas.

“People usually go to town to have fun, but we’re changing the system by bringing top bands to the people. We want the local people to enjoy their time in their own backyards,” said Ncube.

She said Masilela Leisure Centre would continue hosting top musical bands.

@Kiyaz_Cool

Ammara Brown

Bongani Ndlovu, Showbiz Correspondent
SONGSTRESS Ammara Brown has challenged the corporate world to support the local arts industry saying talent alone is not enough as they need financial backing to develop it.

“South Africa invests heavily in their arts industry and it becomes lucrative. Zimbabwe isn’t short of talent and we’re literally bursting off the seams with talent,” said Ammara.

The artiste, who was in Bulawayo over the weekend with rapper Tehn Diamond for his Tehn Outta Ten Tour at Club Connect however, acknowledged that they had a long way to go as artistes in enticing the corporate world to support them.

“The entertainment industry is a business and some of us should start treating it that way. Once we do so, the corporate world will start paying attention and start investing in us,” she said.

“. . . because, if Zimbabwean corporates don’t pay attention, corporates from other countries are going to take us as they’re watching.”

The Wachu Want hit-maker who last year collaborated with South African artistes such as Sizwe Ngubane and Zinhle Ngidi said staying relevant and taking her music as a business was the key to her success.

“I don’t believe in staying the same. I’ve grown because when I listen to my music from three years ago and compare it to now, it’s sounding different.

People never know what to expect from me as they are always exposed to a new and improved Ammara.”

Turning to her performances, Ammara who refers to her fans as Ammaritians, equated the love she has for them to the love she has for her son.

“I think there’s a point in every artiste’s career when you realise that it’s not about you. Even though it’s your dream and goal (to be an artiste), you realise you’re responsible for so many people’s memories as you become a part of the fabric of your fans’ lives,” she said.

Ammara said she enjoys watching fans showing appreciation for her music when she is on stage as well as having people approach her to reminisce about her previous shows.

“I feel a lot of things when I’m on stage. I feel overwhelmed, grateful and inspired. I love seeing my fans with me (on stage). They’re just the other half of my world to me, my son (Khameel) being the other half,” she said.

@bonganinkunzi