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Arts Reporter

Most Zimbabwe promoters are now very predictable in their selection of acts. If it is not a South African band, then it is a delicious line up of dancehall acts fused with their on fire hip hop neighbours. 

In the case that one has extra funds and can handle a crowd, they throw in Winky D or Jah Prayzah. 

If they are really liquid, they will bring through a Jamaican or Nigerian act. 

Very rarely do we have frequent shows of acts that do not fall into the model listed above. 

However, music promotion company, Ngoma Nehosho, always tries to be different. 

After proving that change works when they staged a sold out show for Grammy award-winning act Joss Stone at the 7 Arts Theatre back in the winter of 2017, the team is back with yet another bizarre offering. 

They are bringing  the UB40 featuring Ali Campbell in the capital on Africa Day. 

“UB40 is a band that has been on our radar as Ngoma Nehosho for a very long time now,” said Ngoma Nehosho director, Walter Wanyanya. “I first watched them in 2012 when they were performing in Johannesburg, South Africa, and I was convinced that I had to bring them through to Zimbabwe at some point. 

“The opportunity to bring them then came in 2019 and we set to have a show in 2020. Sadly, the Covid-19 pandemic put our plans on ice, but now we are finally having the show.” 

UB40 will be supported by a super gifted line-up of local acts. 

These are Sylent Nqo, Mimmie Tarukwana and Josh Ansley. 

One would wonder if this is not a risky approach given that the three supporting acts are not known to pull huge crowds. 

“As far as curating live shows which is what I do here and elsewhere in Southern Africa, when you put together a line-up, you are trying to have a balanced meal,” said Wanyanya. “So, at times one needs a salty starter which is why we chose a person like Mimmie. 

“Her stripped down set will give the audience a taste of a different vibe before the main act comes on. We chose those acts knowing they are very different and they complement each other very well. 

“Our approach has always been to give people an experience and that is the objective on this one too. Some would argue and say the aim is to fill up the space, but that is not necessarily our thinking, though, yes, we need to make returns off the investment.” 

On ticket sales, Wanyanya said, “The response has been great. We are actually surprised because local audiences don’t buy tickets in advance. We have sold well over 1 000 tickets already.” 

The UB40 team is expected to arrive on the 24 May and will stay in the country for four days. 

“They will definitely get an opportunity to see Zimbabwe and we are also looking into a possible meet up with local acts so that there be an exchange of ideas similar to what we do during the Jacaranda Music Festival,” said Wanyanya. 

UB40 first performed in Zimbabwe in May 1982, where they were scheduled to hold two shows one in Harare and the other in Bulawayo. 

The Bulawayo show, which was the first, did not materialise after it was washed away, but the group successfully held the second show at the City Sports Centre in Harare, which was oversubscribed. 

The group was to return in 1986 where it held two shows at Rufaro Stadium.