The Sunday Mail
Reggae dancehall’s most-sought-after entertainer, Busy Signal, is headed to Zimbabwe.
Busy Signal, real name Glendale Goshia Gordon, will headline this year’s Lion Lager Summer Beer Festival, which takes place at the Glamis Arena in the capital on October 11.
The festival, which is branded and sponsored by drinks manufacturer Delta Beverages and run by the Harare International Festival of the Arts (Hifa), features a select few of top local performers.
Although officials at both Delta Beverages and Hifa could not confirm Busy Signal’s one-off show in Harare, The Sunday Mail Leisure has it on good authority that the Jamaican chanter agreed terms with the festival organisers.
Insiders at Delta Beverages and Hifa told this publication that Delta had secured the services of the “One More Night” hit singer with all required payments having been done.
Furthermore, they revealed that another surprise international act would be announced sometime this week when Hifa calls the first Press conference for the Lion Lager Summer Beer Festival.
“The remaining paperwork is now being handled by the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) and of course the immigration department, otherwise it’s all systems go come October 11,” said a source.
Delta Beverages marketing manager Patricia Murambinda could not be drawn into commenting on the visiting international acts, saying the full line-up would be revealed once all paper work has been completed.
“I do not want to jump the gun. Paperwork is still being processed and, as you may be aware, foreign artistes have to be cleared first before we can say anything publicly,” said Murambinda.
She, however, confirmed that a high-profile Jamaican they had been chasing for a while had agreed to perform in the country.
“These days it is all about dancehall in Zimbabwe.
“So we are bringing the ghetto youths and the generality of Zimbabwean music lovers an artiste that will blow them away, someone they cannot resist,” said Murambinda.
She also revealed that the festival had been moved from the traditional end of October dates to the first half of the month.
“We have often been threatened by rains during that time and this also has something to do with the availability of artistes, the venue and other factors,” she said.
Unlike the previous years when beverages at the Beer Fest were sold at a profit, the marketing manager said that all beverages would be sold at “pump price”.
“Our beers will be sold at give-away prices, this year is indeed a beer festival,” she said.
Beer prices are not the only attraction – entry tickets will also be very affordable.
“We are launching a new communication for the Lion Lager brand and thus we need as large a crowd as possible.
“So we are slashing the gate fee to enable everyone who loves music, beer and generally having a good time, to be able to attend,” said Murambinda.
Murambinda also said low turnouts at most music shows this year had also influenced the festival organisers’ decision to slash beer prices and entry fees.
She said the festival organisers were prepared to deal with the expected tens of thousands of music lovers.
“Previous editions of the beer festival have shown that we are much organised and it will be no different this year except that we will up security, sell tickets in advance and ensure that we have as many entry points as possible to enable easy movement,” she said.
Local dancehall artistes, who are notorious for using backtracks even when touring overseas, will be using live bands at the festival.
“There will be no backtracks from the headline act to the local performers. Save for the DJs we have hired, October 11 will be all about live music,” she said.
On demand Zim dancehall chanter Soul Musaka aka Soul Jah Love, who is in the United Kingdom where he is rounding up a world tour, which saw him make several stops in Australia, is on the line-up.
The “Ndini Uya Uya” singer together with the “dancehall father” Shinsoman and two sound houses, Legendary Sound and Judgement Yard, are expected to give the visiting Jamaican superstar a good run for his money.
However, there will be a stranger in the house – Jah Prayzah.
Born Mukudzei Mukombe, Jah Prayzah will bring his unique sound to the big stage in what could have easily passed for a reggae dancehall festival.
Jah Prayzah, who is currently the biggest crowd puller among non-dancehall performers, will be out to prove that other genres still have a huge following in the country.
However, the night will still belong to Busy Signal, who comes to Zimbabwe at a time when reggae dancehall in Zimbabwe is at its all-time high.
The artiste’s catalogue includes a series of both roots rock reggae and hardcore dancehall.
He is currently riding high with such hits as “Brighter Days”, “Night Shift”, “Gumbler”, “Reggae Music Again”, “Watch Out For This (Bumaye)”, “Personally”, “Big Stage”, “Private Number” and “Missing You (Heart and Soul)”, to mention just a few.
Busy Signal has conquered many European markets and is big in the United States of America where his performances are in high demand.
The artiste has proved his vocal prowess on many reggae numbers while bringing down the house with some heavy dancehall tracks.
Zim dancehall producers, Levels and JMP, of Chillspot Records and Legendary Sound respectively, have hailed the Jamaican’s impending visit.
The producers said local dancehall artistes have a lot to learn from experienced and internationally recognised performers like Busy Signal.
“This is a chance for local performers to come out and look at how these international artistes conduct themselves, dish out songs and communicate with fans.
That way, our music can only get better. It is the same with us producers as well – we learn from listening to these beats and watching people’s responses to certain sounds,” said JMP.
Busy Signal’s sound has been transformed tremendously by producers, especially Major Laser, who is also the brains behind Beyonce’s “We Run the World. .”
Busy Signal was born on January 24 1982 in Saint Ann Parish, Kingston, Jamaica.
The artiste has been a large part of the music scene, especially dancehall, since 2003.
His first single “Step Out” was one of the most popular dancehall songs in 2005.
