The Sunday Mail
Kimberly Mhembere recently in VICTORIA FALLS
THE Victoria Falls Carnival, a three-day musical festival, saw more than 30 local and international artistes taking to the stage.
Live musical performances were held in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe; and in Livingstone, on the Zambian side of the mighty Zambezi River.
Fans were spoilt for choice as they could choose to party in either country.
The festival was a mixed bag, with some of the artistes performing exceptionally well and others dismally.
Like any other festival, the Victoria Falls Carnival had its highs and lows.
Blips and blunders
The turnout was poor, both on the Zimbabwean and Zambian sides, on day one.
Nigerian hit maker CKay failed to connect with the crowd and performed for less than an hour.
Although he had an impressive stage presence, the crowd failed to appreciate his other songs.
He, however, did well when he finally performed his two megahits “Love Nwatiti” and “Emiliana”.
On the closing night, the fans felt cheated after performances started around 10pm, instead of the 7pm scheduled kick-off.
The three-hour delay was attributed to a power failure.
Top performances
Zimbabwe’s Jah Prayzah and South Africa’s Mafikizolo and Oskido took time to remind fans of who they really are.
They left fans asking for more.
Oskido took fans down memory lane with his old school hits and a superb performance at Boity’s signature party.
Apart from Jah Prayzah, Mafikizolo and Oskido, the likes of Enzo Ishall, Boity, Dj Toss, The Travellers Band, Tashinga and Mi Casa all gave a good account of themselves.
Supporting local
The call for the inclusion of local artistes at the festival was answered and those who were given the opportunity to showcase their talent did not disappoint.
Jah Prayzah surely represented the country well. Enzo Ishall was a favourite and his performance helped explain why he got a slot to perform during the 2022 Rick Ross concert.
Enzo Ishall’s band has surely evolved.
Andrea the Voice, another local musician, took the crowd to church and gave a grand performance for such a youthful artiste.
Mookomba, a band that hails from Chinotimba, a high-density suburb in the resort town, also performed exceptionally well.
The band members were grateful for being given the opportunity to perform before their legion of local fans.
Mbingas
Over the past few years, general ticket holders enjoyed some extra elements of the carnival, for example, the Bush Party and The Train.
This year, only VIP and VVIP ticket holders were given extras.
Organisers put a lot of effort to make sure that those who paid more got the best experience, while ‘‘neglecting’’ those of lesser financial muscle.
VVIP ticket holders went on a sunset boat cruise, were treated to a pool party and had access to the Black Motion Event at no extra cost.
VIP ticket holders had a curated entrance and sitting area, which gave them access to the stage.
Ordinary ticket holders had to park their cars a bit further from the main entrance and had to wait in queues for shuttles to come and ferry them to the venue.
A VIP ticket was going for US$295 for three-day access.
The VIP and VVIP ticket holders enjoyed their time without any hustles.
Extras
During the carnival, most people got the chance to visit the newly opened Victoria Falls Experience at Elephant Walk.
This joint offers a world class service. The Wine Haven gave wine enthusiasts the opportunity to explore the diverse and fascinating world of wine.
A fan who attended the carnival for the first time left the resort town a happy man. “This is my first time to be here in Victoria Falls. I enjoyed the carnival and I noticed that there is something calming about this space,” the fan, who identified himself as Steve, said
