The Sunday Mail
The last time they performed in Harare, they left everyone spellbound with their energetic act and timeless songs. That was in September last year.
Several of their songs, including a collaboration with Nigerian mega star, Davido, have since become hits and the group is not showing any signs of slowing down. Mafikizolo makes a timely return to the capital on December 19, with a show at the majestic Harare International Conference Centre (HICC).
The show is likely to be the highlight of this festive season as most international acts that had been lined up to perform in Harare — from John Legend to Morgan Heritage, have cancelled their shows.
Mafikizolo will share the stage with superstar Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi, in what is expected to be an explosive gig.
Tuku recently released his 62nd album, “Mukombe Wemvura”, which is slowly gathering pace with most of the tracks proving to be popular with the singer’s multitudes of fans.
Tuku’s manager and drummer, Sam Mataure, is relishing his band’s encounter with Mafikizolo.
“This is a huge show. Look at the kind of crowd we had when we performed with Zahara, it was a full house. Tuku music fans are going to come out in droves for this show and I can safely say this is our Christmas gift to our fans, of course and the album itself,” said Mataure, adding “there is no better way to end the year.”
Also billed to perform are a few Zim dancehall acts that have been roped in to spice up the event, according to show organisers.
Simba Madziwa of Simmad Entertainment said there was no doubt there would be one or two Zim dancehall acts just to add variety to the event.
“Zim dancehall is the genre of the moment and there is no way we can ignore it. Mafikizolo and Tuku’s fans will definitely love the variety and I’m certain it will be a balanced show,” said Madziwa.
The duo of Theo Kgosinkwe and Nhlanhla Nciza, who make up Mafikizolo, are no strangers to Zimbabwe. The musical group knows no bad day in office when it comes to their Harare shows and with their fresh West African inspired beat, the upcoming visit is set to be no different. Mafikizolo made its first breakthrough in 1997 with a self-titled album. In 1999 they released “Music Revolution” before their best-selling “Gate Crashers”. However, their international success was to come after their 2002 chart-topping album, Sibongile, which they released after escaping a near-death experience in a car crash. Sibongile’s success saw the group start to perform internationally while at home they scooped several awards. In 2004, the group lost one of its members, Tebogo Madingoane, but went on to release “Kwela”, “Van Toeka Af” and “Six Mabone” before going their separate ways in 2008.
Their eighth studio album “Reunited” came when the duo decided to rejoin forces in 2010 and for two years worked on the album which hit the stores in 2013.
