FOR many, the month of September signals the end of summer, the beginning of autumn and the start of a new school year.
Locally, September has various interesting activities lined up, expected to keep the country and perhaps the world on its toes.
Besides the Harare International Carnival scheduled for the month, the Eastern Highlands will showcase sky-walking and sky-diving activities, new to the region. As the month comes to an end, Bulawayo will host Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo.
September comes from the Latin root septem, meaning seven, because in the original Roman republican calendar, September was the seventh month of the year rather than the ninth.
The Roman calendar was only 10 months long and included the months Martius, Aprilis, Maius, Junius, Quintilis, Sextilis, September, October, November and December.
September 1 to 3 will also witness the Gwanda Gospel Festival and the legendary Oliver Mtukudzi will make an appearance.
The festival, launched in 2015, attracts both Gwanda residents and other Zimbabweans from different provinces.
Bigtime Strategic Group founder Justice Maphosa, founder and sponsor of this festival, says Mtukudzi will, together with Zimpraise, Mahendere Brothers, Mbungo Stars, Tholakele, Knowledge Nkiwane and Judith from Gwanda, among an array of other musicians, perform at the festival.
Mtukudzi, a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, who celebrates his 65th birthday in September, has been chosen to lead a field of other gospel artistes because of his impressive discography which contains both gospel and secular music.
“Oliver Mtukudzi, in the song ‘Hear Me Lord’, which is part of the reason we billed him to perform as the headline act, shows that he is not only in that genre; he is indeed a Christian in his mind and in his heart.” said Maphosa.
“It comes across like that. And if you ask him, the way he explains it in that song, he says all of us go through trials and tribulations. And at that point you realise …this is a meeting (Gwanda Gospel Festival), an appointment with God.
“You understand that everybody, whether you are in mbira, rhumba, or whether you are in kwaito or whatever kind of genre, deep down in your heart it’s printed anybody needs God. And people need God much more when they hit trouble and we are saying let’s not wait for that time to need God when we hit trouble.” (sic)
Last year, the Gwanda Gospel Festival used Tuku’s soulful song, ‘Hear Me Lord’ (I Am Feeling Low), as a signature tune as well as for branding during the three-day concert.
According to the Bigtime Strategic Group, the fact that Tuku has made a mark in his long career mostly on the back of music not synonymous with gospel was never a subject.
“Gwanda is an altar now. We want Gwanda to be the altar for the whole of Zimbabwe, where the whole of Zimbabwe converge for free,” said Maphosa.
“We are bringing the best instruments. We are bringing the best fireworks and we are bringing the best musicians across the genres.
“We are trying to say for those people (like Tolakele, Nkiwane and Judith all from Gwanda) where else will they be seen by 30 000, 40 000 people? Where else will they be seen on national television by millions of people — the answer is nowhere!
“So we are providing an opportunity where every child of God comes to this altar. We don’t care where you come from. You get in for free and you worship our very same God who is for all of us,” said Maphosa.
The Bigtime Strategic Group founder has been encouraged by the increase in the number of participants in the last two editions.
Maphosa wants to make Gwanda a religious tower, attracting the saved and those ‘from the world’, fulfilling a long-held desire of uniting people through song and dance in the town he grew up.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe Tourism Authority’s preparations for this year’s Harare International Carnival are on course with the sponsor, Bigtime Strategic Group, geared to make the event one of a kind following the signing of the MoU this week.
According to ZTA’s head corporate affairs Sugar Chagonda, all the paperwork with regards to roping in DRC’s Werrason (real name Noël Ngiama Makanda) have been finalised.
“We are courting Werrason to come and perform at this year’s carnival. The last time we held the carnival, Koffi Olomide performed and this time around, we decided to invite another Congolese giant. If all goes according to plan, Werrason will perform during the welcome reception and Partner Countries’ Day at the Rainbow Towers on September 7. Afterwards he will also perform at the Carnival Concert to be held on the closing day.
Besides these performances, other shows to look forward to include the Carnival Bush Party on the second of September, the Samba Night and the Street Party,” said Chagonda.
DRC national Robbie Kams and managing director for Tourafrican Safaris said ZTA if successful in bringing Werrason. Rhumba fans will be delighted.
“Werrason is a very good and popular rhumba star who has helped stars like Ferre Gola to become what they are at the moment.
“Bringing Werrason down to Zimbabwe will definitely be a treat for the rhumba fans in Zimbabwe and perhaps give DRC nationals in Zimbabwe a reminder of home.”
Werrason is best known for his songs ‘Diemba’, ‘Mipende’ and ‘Zenga Luketu’. Born December 25 1965 in Moliombo, a small village in Northern Democratic Republic of Congo in Kikwit, Kwilu District, Werrason is a musician and leader of the band Wenge Maison Mère (WMM).
By age eight, Werrason was singing at his local church, the Protestant Church of Cebezo, Kinshasa.
He loved martial arts and was a karate champion by age 12.
In 1981, in between his studies (for a degree in Accountancy), Werrason and his college friends Didier Masela, Adolphe Dominguez, J.B. Mpiana and Blaise Bula, among others, created an innovative musical band Wenge Musica 4X4 Tout Terrain Bon Chic Bon Genre.
This year’s carnival is expected to rake in an estimated US$50 million, with calls for Zimbabweans to support the event not just as a social programme but an important economic activity.
The theme for this year is ‘One Love, Our Unity, Our Pride’.
Zimbabwe’s version has seen the participation of countries such as Nigeria, India, DRC, Botswana and South Africa, among others.
The country has participated in carnivals in the DRC, Seychelles and South Africa, among others.