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Barney Mpariwa

Bornwise Mtonzi Arts Reporter
The year is set to end in style with the popular talent search show, “StarBrite”, continuing its finals today at the Longcheng Plaza in Harare. The two-day finals, which started yesterday, will see 18 performances from the selected individuals taking place.

These include 11 singers, poets, and dancers who will showcase their talent as they battle for the 2015 crown.

In an interview with The Herald Review, the founder of the “Talent show”, Barney Mupariwa, confirmed the show was on and fans should come and support their upcoming local artists.

“Fans should come and have a nice time as we groom our local artists, and promote them so that they become better and be able to appreciate music,” he said

He said the first round was to commemorate the works of the late Chiwoniso Maraire and Hope Masike.

“This year we wanted to honour some of our local artists. We are paying tribute to Chiwoniso and Hope Masike for their great works and the artists will choose a song from any one of them and perform it,” he added

Yesterday the artists were given the opportunity to choose a song from the 70s which they performed.

Barney said performing a song from the past helped the contestants to appreciate music as most of them were largely exposed to today’s “bubble gum” music and not the enduring music of the past.

“We want them to have a writing ability and appreciation of music,” he said

Today the challenge continues with the acts being the chance to compose a song and perform along a live band.

Barney said for supporting acts, they prefer artists from their own stables such as Brian Kadengu (2012 winner), Kireni Zulu, Trevor Dongo, Cynthia Mare, among others.