The highly anticipated Joe Thomas concert at Old Hararians Sports Club lived up to its billing, delivering a night of nostalgia, top-class performances and a celebration of old school R&B music.
For fans, it was a chance to relive the golden era of the 90s and 2000s.
For the organisers and supporting artists such as Ex-Q, The Jukebox, Chiweddar and others it was proof of Zimbabwe’s ability to host unforgettable international acts while spotlighting home-grown talent.
Walter Wanyanya, the concert’s organiser, could hardly contain his excitement when reflecting on the event’s success.
“Honestly, it’s been incredible,” Wanyanya said.
“The anticipation for Joe Thomas in Zimbabwe was huge, and seeing it all come together exactly as we envisioned has been deeply satisfying.
“From the energy of the fans to the flawless performance and the teamwork behind the scenes, everything just clicked.”
Wanyanya told Standard Style that the concert was more than just a performance, but proof of Zimbabwe’s thriving entertainment scene.
- DJ Anusa to sign contract with US record label
- Ex-Q, Winky D, Baba Harare head for Odyssey
- DJ Anusa to sign contract with US record label
- Ex-Q, Winky D, Baba Harare head for Odyssey
Keep Reading
“Moments like this remind you why we do what we do, bringing world-class music experiences to Zimbabwe and seeing the joy it brings to people,” he said.
“The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive and it feels amazing to have delivered a night that fans will remember for years to come.”
“Epic show in Harare,” trade lawyer Chenesai Mukora-Mangoma wrote on her Instagram handle.
“It was an exceptional display of music, stage, sound, performance, crowd and venue”.
Meanwhile, for Ex-Q, one of Zimbabwe’s pioneering urban grooves artists, the night was particularly special sharing the stage with an artist whose music shaped his own career.
“It was dope. I enjoyed it,” Ex-Q said during an interview. “It wasn’t just about Joe Thomas, but about the people that he brought together. It’s the same crowd that grew up listening to my music and really knows my music very well, so it was easier for me to perform in front of them.”
He noted the unique connection between himself and the audience, many of whom he believes belonged to the same generation that had grown up listening to his music. “I am sure some of them are from the same generation and they know my music,” he said.
“As an artist, I have been to festivals and shows where there's a bunch of artists, and once you're done performing, you just want to head home. But with Joe Thomas, I waited because I really wanted to see what would happen.”
Ex-Q also took away valuable insights from the event, particularly about the importance of investing in quality performances.
“The sound was top notch. For me, one thing that I have learnt is that local artists should invest more when it comes to gear for performances,” he said.
