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Sounds of Universe band pose for a photo with NACZ and Delta Beverages officials

Arts Correspondent
National Arts Council of Zimbabwe has announced that it has disqualified Sounds of Universe music group that was set to represent Bulawayo province at the national finals of Chibuku Road to Fame contest set for September 27 at Glamis Stadium.The group has been replaced by Bulawayo province first runner up Facebook Brothers.

NACZ public relations officer Cathrine Mtombeni said the group has been disqualified for their conduct of bringing the competition into disrepute through unfounded claims about the competition in the press.

“We would to advise all interested stakeholders that the Sounds of Universe will no longer represent the Bulawayo Metropolitan Province at 2014 Chibuku Road to Fame National Finals due to an act of misconduct in the run-up to the finals. Instead, runners up, Facebook Brothers will represent the province,” she said.

Sounds of Universe scooped the first prize at the Chibuku Road to Fame provincial final competition that was held in Bulawayo on July 26.

Immediately after winning the provincial finals, the group chose to go to the press to lodge their complaints about the Chibuku Road to Fame finals of 2013 instead of following laid down procedures.

Chibuku Road to Fame is a partnership programme between National Arts Council of Zimbabwe and Delta Beverages.

The programme is a music identification talent show that seeks to promote upcoming musicians and the first prize winners are given a monetary prize and a recording contract for their debut album.

One of the products of the programme is sungura musician Romeo Gasa.

National Arts Council of Zimbabwe in its bid to professionalise the arts is also encouraging the arts stakeholders to be professional in their conduct of business.

Professionalism does not only benefit the arts stakeholders but also the nation at large.

Meanwhile, all is set for Chibuku Neshawari traditional dance festival national finals that will be held tomorrow at the Harare Gardens.

All is set for the Chibuku Neshamwari Traditional dance festival finals to be held on August 23 at Harare Gardens.

The finals will see 10 provincial champions from across Zimbabwe battling it out for the grand prize of $4 000 in store for the winner.

First and second runners-up will walk away with $3 000 and $2 000 each respectively.

Mashonaland West winners, Nengoma Cultural Arts group will be representing their home province and performing the Dinhe dance whilst Mashonaland Central winners, Swerengoma do the Mbende/Jerusarema dance.Mashonaland East winners Ngoma Dzepasi will also be performing Mbende while Harare province winners Chitukuko Nyau and Midlands winners, Zikuvave will provide entertainment with Zambia Gure, which has previously dominated the competitions due to its colourful costumes and captivating choreography.

Masvingo winners MUSA Prison will be dancing the Bira dance while Manicaland’s Redwing group will do the Beni Aronoti dance and Bulawayo’s Sekunjalo MaAfrica present the Umzansi Dance.

Rounding up the list of performances are Matebeleland winners, Simunye Arts from the North and Chimtali How Mine from the South who will respectively be dancing to Chinyambera and Chimtali.