Entertainment / Celebrity
Oliver Mtukudzi to perfom in Gwanda
07 Aug 2017 at 12:44hrs | Views
LOCAL music superstar and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for Southern Africa - Dr. Oliver Mtukudzi who celebrates his 65th birthday in September - will this year headline the annual Gwanda Gospel Festival. He will be accompanied by his wife, Daisy and their popular Black Spirits Band.
The 64 year-old legendary musician who is regarded by many as a social evangelist due to his music which is replete with messages that touch on different issues in society, has been chosen to lead a field of other Gospel artistes because of his impressive discography which contains both Gospel and secular music.
"This year we've got Oliver Mtukudzi, Zimpraise, Mahendera Brothers, Mbungo Stars, Tolakele, Knowledge Nkiwane and Judith from Gwanda in Matebeleland South, among an array of musicians who are billed to perform on the first weekend of September 1-3," said Gospel Festival founder and sponsor, Justice Maphosa.
Justice Maphosa, Group-CEO Bigtime Strategic Group
Last year, the Gwanda Gospel Festival used Tuku's soulful song, Hear Me Lord (I Am Feeling Low), as a signature tune as well as for branding during the three-day concert.
The fact that Tuku has made a mark in his long career mostly on the back of music not synonymous with gospel was never a subject.
Hear Me Lord meaning and deep thought-provoking messages did not escape Maphosa, whose Bigtime Strategic Group, decided that the maestro musician based in Norton would be the main act for this year's gospel music jamboree.
"Oliver Mtukudzi, in the song Hear Me Lord, which is part of the reason why we have billed him to perform as the headline act, shows that he is not only in that genre; he is indeed a Christian in his mind and in his heart".
"It comes across like that. And if you ask him, the way he explains it in that song, he says all of us go through trials and tribulations. And at that point you realise …this is a meeting (Gwanda Gospel Festival), an appointment with God", he added.
"You understand that everybody, whether you are in mbira, rhumba, or whether you are in kwaito or whatever kind of genre, deep down in your heart there is a God vacuum that nobody else can fill save Jesus Christ our Lord-God and personal Saviour and it is when troubles and storms of life of life visit us that we cry for His mercies", said Maphosa.
Gwanda Gospel Festival, since its launch in 2015, has attracted the interest of both Gwanda residents and diverse Zimbabweans drawn from different provinces.
And the Bigtime Strategic Group founder has been encouraged by the heartening increase in the number of people who have attended the last two editions.
Maphosa wants to make Gwanda a religious tower, attracting the saved and those from the world, as part of fulfilling the long held desire of uniting people through song and dance in the town he grew up.
Gwanda, Maphosa said is now an altar where the whole of Zimbabwe converge for free.
He promised to bring the best instruments, accompanied by fireworks and the best musicians across the genres.
This year's event will provide a big opportunity for especially the local artists performing to market themselves in a grand way.
The first week of September will see every child of God coming to His altar with songs of praise and dance.
"We don't care where you come from. You get in for free and you worship our very same own God who is for all of us," Maphosa said.
Most of the hotels in and around Gwanda and Bulawayo are experiencing brisk businesses as tourists for this year's performance have started booking reservations for thier memorable September weekend.
Mr. Justice Maphosa has set the tone for other Zimbabwean millionaires living in the diaspora to invest at home. The Bigtime millionnaire is also co-hosting this year's Harare International Carnival.
The Mayor for Gwanda Town is His Worship Clr Knowledge Ndlovu.
Contact: thenortonpost@gmail.com
The 64 year-old legendary musician who is regarded by many as a social evangelist due to his music which is replete with messages that touch on different issues in society, has been chosen to lead a field of other Gospel artistes because of his impressive discography which contains both Gospel and secular music.
"This year we've got Oliver Mtukudzi, Zimpraise, Mahendera Brothers, Mbungo Stars, Tolakele, Knowledge Nkiwane and Judith from Gwanda in Matebeleland South, among an array of musicians who are billed to perform on the first weekend of September 1-3," said Gospel Festival founder and sponsor, Justice Maphosa.
Justice Maphosa, Group-CEO Bigtime Strategic Group
Last year, the Gwanda Gospel Festival used Tuku's soulful song, Hear Me Lord (I Am Feeling Low), as a signature tune as well as for branding during the three-day concert.
The fact that Tuku has made a mark in his long career mostly on the back of music not synonymous with gospel was never a subject.
Hear Me Lord meaning and deep thought-provoking messages did not escape Maphosa, whose Bigtime Strategic Group, decided that the maestro musician based in Norton would be the main act for this year's gospel music jamboree.
"Oliver Mtukudzi, in the song Hear Me Lord, which is part of the reason why we have billed him to perform as the headline act, shows that he is not only in that genre; he is indeed a Christian in his mind and in his heart".
"It comes across like that. And if you ask him, the way he explains it in that song, he says all of us go through trials and tribulations. And at that point you realise …this is a meeting (Gwanda Gospel Festival), an appointment with God", he added.
"You understand that everybody, whether you are in mbira, rhumba, or whether you are in kwaito or whatever kind of genre, deep down in your heart there is a God vacuum that nobody else can fill save Jesus Christ our Lord-God and personal Saviour and it is when troubles and storms of life of life visit us that we cry for His mercies", said Maphosa.
And the Bigtime Strategic Group founder has been encouraged by the heartening increase in the number of people who have attended the last two editions.
Maphosa wants to make Gwanda a religious tower, attracting the saved and those from the world, as part of fulfilling the long held desire of uniting people through song and dance in the town he grew up.
Gwanda, Maphosa said is now an altar where the whole of Zimbabwe converge for free.
He promised to bring the best instruments, accompanied by fireworks and the best musicians across the genres.
This year's event will provide a big opportunity for especially the local artists performing to market themselves in a grand way.
The first week of September will see every child of God coming to His altar with songs of praise and dance.
"We don't care where you come from. You get in for free and you worship our very same own God who is for all of us," Maphosa said.
Most of the hotels in and around Gwanda and Bulawayo are experiencing brisk businesses as tourists for this year's performance have started booking reservations for thier memorable September weekend.
Mr. Justice Maphosa has set the tone for other Zimbabwean millionaires living in the diaspora to invest at home. The Bigtime millionnaire is also co-hosting this year's Harare International Carnival.
The Mayor for Gwanda Town is His Worship Clr Knowledge Ndlovu.
Contact: thenortonpost@gmail.com
Source - The Norton Post
