Amakhosi Elite 400 Zimbabwe's premiere arts and culture hub

ZIMBABWE'S premiere arts and cultural hub Amakhosi Elite 400 in Bulawayo - exploded to life on Wednesday last week with an array of performances by various artistes.

The melting pot fiesta is part of Amakhosi's Winter Season programme that started on May 4 in the City of Kings and will run until August 20.

Covering a period of four months, the showcase is without doubt one of the mammoth arts fetes in the country, comparable probably only to Hifa.
 
While Amakhosi Elite 400 is famous for its theatre events, this year it plays host to a medley of art genres from music, poetry, dance and theatre, among others.

Prime shows include performances by some of the country's leading musicians like Bob Nyabinde, Willis Wataffi formerly of Afrika Revenge, Freddy "Kapfupi" Manjalima, Sandra Ndebele-Sibindi, Jayz Marabini and Thembi Gogo Ngwabi, Ben "Shereni" Sibenke and Styx Mhlanga, among others.

While some of the shows have been held so far, what show-goers should look forward to is the one on May 18 that will feature The Breast Calabash in a traditional musical showcase.
 
But it remains to be seen whether songbird Sandra Ndebele-Sibindi, who recently gave birth, will be able to perform in the same musical owing to maternal commitments or it will just be her backing group, Izintombi Zomqangala that will entertain people.

The musical features an all-female cast that specialises on traditional dances fused with contemporary influences to bring out the power of African women and feminism.

The God's House Gospel Musical will take over the stage on May 25 in an Amakhosi Arts Academy production written by Monica Cheru-Mpambawashe and directed by prolific artiste, Styx Mhlanga.

The production challenges the church with a thought-provoking question of what it would do if God answered their prayers and told them that He will visit in 14 days and they should select a family that will host him.
 
German classical playwright Bertolt Brecht's plays are rendered in a War Musical on May 18 and June 23to 25.

It will feature the play, "Mother Courage and Her Children" also directed by Styx Mhlanga.

The play is set in World War 2 where Mother Courage makes every effort to fend for her family despite the raging war.

Versatile actress Precious Makhulumo, famed for her role as 'Sis Nto' in "Amakorokoza" plays the role of Mother Courage.

Studio 263 actor Ben Sibenke, popularly known, as Shereni in the soap, will thrill audiences with a comedy-drama titled "Dr Manzuma and the Vampires" that will run between July 27-30.

Sibenke wrote and directed the production about a man whose children decide to split his wealth among themselves after thinking that he is dead owing to his long disappearance.

The ploy however, thickens when the father returns throwing the plans of his family in disarray over the ill-begotten wealth.

One of the major highlights will be on August 6 when comedian-cum-musician Kapfupi performs from 7:30 pm in a once-off show.

Kapfupi is billed to churn out some of his hit songs like "Mai Nga" and "Juice Card" as well as new ones from his latest release "Musoja".

He is also renowned for his rib-cracking jokes that have endeared him to many.

The curtain will come down with performances from August 18-20 with a comedy titled "Lunatic" by Thoko Zulu.

However, the shows have a "No Under 18" age restriction

They will be running from 3pm and 7:30pm.