Zimpapers Logo

Plumtree-based Tanga Pasi rose to fame as Matabeleland South provincial winners in the 2012 edition of Chibuku Road to Fame

Problem Masau Arts Correspondent
THE biggest talent search show returns to Glamis Stadium this Saturday where 10 groups representing all the provinces battle it out in the annual Chibuku Road to Fame national finals.The groups are Hambakwe Stars from Mashonaland East, Real Spears from Manicaland, Motor Super Sounds from Matabeleland South, Human Life from Mashonaland West, Sounds of the Universe from Bulawayo, CY The Legends Band from Masvingo, Soul Panorama from Midlands, The Way from Mashonaland Central, Were from Harare and African Tradition Vibes from Matebeleland North.

Chibuku brand manager Stanley Meki said this year’s competition would see groups from different genres battle for supremacy.
“Looking closely at the finalists, one can easily conclude that most genres in the country are represented. We have groups that plays sungura, afro-pop, jazz and rhumba. I urge people to come in their numbers so that they can enjoy themselves,” he said.

“We are pleased with how the provincial competitions have gone. The level of competition is very high,” said Meki.
Last year, more than 13 000 watched the national finals .

This year’s winner will join the elite league of previous Chibuku Road to Fame winners in the mould of Romeo Gasa (2007), Club Shanga (2010), Munandi Express (2011) and Terry and the Bliss (2012) among others.

These artistes have gone on to become established musicians in their own right, courtesy of the competition. Chibuku Road to Fame is Zimbabwe’s biggest and most successful talent search platform.

The programme is a collaborative effort between Delta Bevarages and the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe. Its major objectives are to promote the development of musical groups through identifying groups with potential to produce recordable material and assist winning groups in documenting their work.

The initiative has benefited quite a number of young musicians in countrywide, whose talent would otherwise have gone unnoticed.
Many young and upcoming musicians see this programme as the first step to stardom. They enter the competition with the hope that one day they will actually have a recording contract, something which they dream of.

Chibuku Road to Fame has attracted the interest of many in both rural and urban areas.