The Sunday Mail
Society Reporter
SOUTH African musician and record producer Master KG — born Kgaogelo Moagi — is set to headline the Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo shutdown gig in Bulawayo.
The 16th edition of the annual event will be held from October 12 to 14.
As per tradition, organisers of the expo will host a family music festival on the final day of the event.
The three-day tourism expo kicks off on Thursday at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) grounds, with the gig set to take place at the ZITF main arena on Saturday.
Top artistes from South Africa and Zimbabwe — among them Master KG, who is famed for the monster hit “Jerusalema”; Sandra Ndebele; ExQ; and Jeys Marabini — are billed to perform.
Master KG is an entertainer of repute — whose debut album “Skeleton Move” (2018) achieved acclaim, including an AFRIMA Award for Best Artist/Group in the African Electro category.
The musician blends tropical vibes, African rhythms, deep house grooves and pop melodies to create a sound he calls “bolobedu house”.
In 2020, his single “Jerusalema” went viral on the social media, which spawned remixes of the track, particularly in Nigeria.
“As has become the norm, we want to shut down the expo in style. Artistes have been carefully selected so that we cater for different tastes. We will have music for the young and the mature crowd,” said Zimbabwe Tourism Authority head of corporate affairs Godfrey Koti.
Last year, South African artistes who included “Imali Eningi” hitmaker Big Zulu and the late Costa Tich delivered first-grade performances during the Sanganai/Hlanganani shutdown gig.
Koti said they are working with local music promoters, as well as a Bulawayo-based commercial radio station, in organising the gig.
“The major acts are Master KG, Sandra Ndebele, ExQ and Jeys Marabini. However, we will have several other supporting acts — mainly youngsters from Bulawayo and surrounding areas. Similarly, there will be several performances throughout the three-day programme, especially on the opening day,” said Koti.
“We are going to set Bulawayo nightlife ablaze during the Sanganai/Hlanganani course as people will be mixing and mingling on the sidelines of the event from the start to the end of the expo.”
A cocktail of events — including township tourism, musical performances, cultural exhibitions and familiarisation trips to different tourism sites across the country — will punctuate the expo.
Sanganai/Hlanganani attracts local and international exhibitors, industry professionals and visitors interested in exploring Zimbabwe’s unique tourism attractions and investment opportunities.
“Everything is now in place with regard to preparations and we hope this to be a memorable event. We are pulling out all the stops to guarantee a flawless event. We are encouraging members of the public to attend the family music festival in their numbers. A nominal fee will be charged for the show,” said Koti.
