Rumbidzai Mhlanga, Sunday Life Reporter
TSHOLOTSHO Centre residents were last December treated to a first collaborative maskandi festival featuring local and South African artistes which is expected to be an annual event going forward.
The show was held on Boxing Day and was organised by Mlele Productions in partnership with the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA).
The festival was held under the theme — Umcimbi Wamaganyane.
Businessman and Mlele Productions chairperson Owen Sibanda said they hosted the show during the festive season because they wanted to accommodate locals who live abroad.
“The festival was held on 26 December 2019 at Emthunzini, we chose the date so as to accommodate a majority of Tsholotsho residents who work in South Africa and other countries who usually return home for the holidays.
“We have marked this day on our calendar and this event will be held annually. The 2020 edition will be bigger and better as we celebrate our cultural values through maskandi music,” Sibanda said.
He said the main objective was also to market Zimbabwean artistes and music.
“Apart from the guest artistes, we also had a number of local maskandi outfits that include our own Tsholotsho-based versatile Amaganyane, Gazelimnyama, Indlamuva, Mdumiseni and several up-and-coming local groups as well as South African artistes including Chwane Lebhaca, Abagqobhi and Mbuzeni together with their band members,” Sibanda said.
Mlele Productions chief executive officer Clarence Garura said Maskandi is a musical genre developed in South Africa and is mostly popular among the Zulu ethnic group. In Zimbabwe the genre is mostly popular in Matabeleland.
“Since maskandi is mainly about upholding the African cultural norms and the most important one being living together in unity. The South African artistes led by Abagqobhi composed a song they performed together with Zimbabwean artistes titled Africa Unite to denounce xenophobia and violence all together,” said Garura.