Macheso, Jah Prayzah clash

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Billing of sungura ace Alick Macheso and contemporary music wizard Jah Prayzah at the Clash of Giants concert on Saturday promises an immense showdown between these musicians and what they represent.

Billing of sungura ace Alick Macheso and contemporary music wizard Jah Prayzah at the Clash of Giants concert on Saturday promises an immense showdown between these musicians and what they represent.

By Kennedy Nyavaya

Jah Prayzah

The politics of who serves as a curtain-raiser for the other or who will stage a memorable performance characterised by a louder singer-along and dancefloor frenzy is worth every penny for any reveller.

On one end, Macheso appears to have regained his old-time mojo after the release of the album Dzinosvitsa Kure, while the dreadlocked Third Generation band boss is expected to release another project before the end of the year.

Ultimately, both camps possess significant stock and they will be more than willing to leverage and occupy the coveted “man-of-the-moment” throne, which is vacant .

An attempt to get comments from both camps was fruitless yesterday, but those who will attend the event have a chance to install the next monarch within music circles.

For the organisers, known for facilitating high-profile events with foreign artistes especially in the early stages of summer time, the “clash” is a platform for local voices to shine apart from the apparent cash-in.

“This is for us is an idea of coming back to support local musicians and we believe that Macheso and JP have the ability to pull the same huge crowds as a foreign artiste would,” said 2 Kings Entertainment representative and show coordinator DJ Dee Nosh.

The two crowd-pullers will lead an assortment of supporting artistes, including Sulumani Chimbetu, Killer T, Takura and Tamy, among others, at the gig jointly organised by 2 Kings Entertainment and Sound Blaze Productions.

“After the release of his album, Macheso has not had a show where he is headlining apart from an early appearance at the Koffi Olomide show, so this is a chance for that. Besides, we took representatives from all genres,” said Dee Nosh.

Against a background of crippling socio-economic, entertainment has become more of a luxury than a necessity for many in the country and in the receiving end of this excruciating new order are promoters and artistes alike.

In recent years, the month of August, especially the last weekend, has been a pomp and fanfare affair offering an abundance of entertainment by both local and foreign- based musicians.

It is not so this year mostly as a result of the cash crisis which has left most local promoters with no choice, but to use local acts.

This has birthed the phenomenon of assorted line-ups at most shows which now incorporate artistes solely on the basis of their crowd-pulling capabilities than corresponding genre with the headlining acts.