Zimpapers Logo

Mathias Mhere performs at the show

Richmore Tera Arts Correspondent
High-riding gospel musician Mathias Mhere proved why he is one of the country’s most sought-after artistes at the moment after he upstaged visiting South African diva, Winnie Mashaba with a top-drawer act at a poorly-attended family gig held at the Harare Gardens on Saturday.
The “Favour” hitmaker – who earlier on had promised to give his best shot at the concert – pulled shocker from his bag of talent that include crowd charisma, stage presence, energetic dances as well as emotive and powerful lyrics to reduce Mashaba’s performance to a second-rate act.

Mashaba went on stage to support her Zimbabwean gospel singer, Letwin Gavhure-Chawira, and this seems not to have gone in accordance with the people’s expectations.

The diminutive singer effortlessly stole the hearts of the less than 200 fans to give a sterling act with his all-time favourites like “Favour”, among others, but amid screams and wild cheers from crowd who were requesting for the song “Number Busy” featured on his high-riding album, “Nguva Yemunana.”

His nimble-footed moves on the dance floor were also a marvel to watch.
If there is one blunder that the organisers added to their already blotting list of bleeps and blunders, it was bringing Mashaba and Gavhure-Chawire, before Mhere as it was akin to bringing the curtain down to the show considering that the audience wanted to rush to their homes and escape from the wet weather, as they couldn’t wait for the main bill of the day, which was Mashaba of course. Probably smelling the smoke, the organisers made an eleventh hour change to their programme and decided to feature Mashaba during Gavhure-Chawira’s act.

The organisers should have brought Mashaba and Gavhure-Chawira somewhere during the day so that the audience would manage to see them performing and also it would have given ample time to Gavhure-Chawira to show the stuff she is made of.

Some of the fans could be heard complaining that they had been short-changed after Mashaba featured on a few tracks by Gavhure-Chawire, which she also sung in Shona.

Apart from Mhere, another group that impressed was the Albino outfit Alcoz led by Loveness Mainato who touched many with their heart-probing songs like “Mirira Nguva,” “Fambai Naye” and “Arise and Shine” featured on their forthcoming album “Mirira Nguva” due for release early January.

It was also a chance for upcoming singer Alpha Ngonidzashe Gatsi who proved that more and more young musicians deserved to be given such an opportunity to shine in future. Although presenters Tarisai Chipere and Elsie Moja- Pelo tried to infuse a positive view into the people’s mindsets by downplaying the low turnout, they could not hide this fact judging from their sombre appearances backstage, (as the photos here reveal).