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Tafadzwa Zimoyo Arts Reporter
ONE of Zimbabwe’s leading gospel music choir groups, Zimpraise, will today host an International Gospel and Music Festival at the Harare International Conference Centre. The festival ends tomorrow and features several top choirs and artistes including music superstar Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi.

Zimpraise will do a live recording of their season eight production titled “The Second Coming” which will feature Tuku. Some of the artistes who are set to perform at the festival include Mechanic Manyeruke, Mathias Mhere, Sabastian Magacha, Pastor G, Sunshine City, Extreme Afrique, Vocal Ex, Cream Voices, Carol Mujokoro, Wellington Kwenda, Vabati VaJehovah, Pastor Haisa, Pianos Jaravaza, Emelda Mudzamiri and Hossana among others.

The festival starts in the afternoon with a platform for children to showcase their talent through music and dance while some legends and pioneers in gospel music will take to the stage later. The choir’s chief executive officer Joseph Madziyire said all was in place for the festival.

“It is all about Jesus and we stick to that theme. I am happy that everything is already in place and people should come and witness the power of Jesus through music,” he said.

He said the festival will go an extra mile in showing that artistes in the gospel music genre have some solidarity in as far as spreading the word of God is concerned.

“As gospel musicians, we don’t have time to diss one another and our mission is to use our God-given talents to win souls and this is the aim of this two-day event. We are one in the body of Christ,” said Madziyire.

The inclusion of secular musicians on the list also helps in showing that artistes were of one accord and playing different genres does not mean they do not work together.

The diversity of the artistes is also set to give gospel music lovers a mixed bag of styles, with Baba Manyeruke billed to take his legion of fans to the heydays of “Madhimoni” and “Makorokoto” among other hit songs that made him a household name.

Mathias Mhere will unleash his hits like “Favour” and “Tsano Handei” among others, while Sabastian Magacha will be out to prove why his “Bhosvo” rings loudest.

Madziyire will use the opportunity to launch his new book- “Young Boy, Lead”, which he said is about how young people can become better leaders and what it takes to be one.