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Bongani Ndlovu Showbiz Correspondent
THE stage is set for the Kalawa Homecoming Party at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Sunday and this year all eyes will be on two bitter rivals in Mzansi hip hop, AKA and Cassper Nyovest.

Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo offers “Super Mega” as AKA is known and Nyovest a chance to compete on the mic and stage performance.

It’s been one of the longest and fiercest public feuds in South African hip-hop history that has seen both rappers release diss tracks aimed at each other.

This is the first time that the two rappers perform at the same show and what is left is to observe who will sway the crowd to their side.

The rivalry between Nyovest and AKA has spilled over to their fans in Zimbabwe especially in Bulawayo.

Advance tickets for the mouth-watering show that are going for $15 at Rainbow hotel, are selling fast.

“There’re about 3,000 ordinary advance tickets that have been sold so far. For VIP the number is limited and people should come and buy them early before they run out,” said Vusumuzi Siqalaba of XMO Squad who are the promoters of the show.

On the day an ordinary ticket will be $20 and VIP will be selling for $50.

Nyovest and AKA fans have been split into two rival camps with both believing their respective heroes are the best rappers presently in the game.

Nyovest in October made history and became the first South African artiste to fill up the 20,000 capacity Coca Cola Dome.

For some fans this is what proved beyond doubt that Nyovest is the best rapper in South Africa.

AKA has, however, won awards locally, continently and internationally such as South African Music Awards, AFRIMMA, MTV and BET awards which his fans say shows he’s more popular and more successful than Cassper.

Both rappers have produced hit songs with Nyovest having Gusheshe, Phumakim’ and Doc Shebeleza and AKA with Run Jozi, Congratulate and All Eyes On Me which will be hard for people to chose who is the best.

Apart from the AKA and Cassper saga on stage, fun lovers will be spoilt for choice as top artistes have been lined up for the show.

Mafikizolo, Professor, Oskido, Durban Nyts, Stiff, DJs Bobstar, Tira, Fresh and Pepsi are expected to keep the dance floor packed at the cricket grounds.

Debutants Durban Nyts of the Shumaya fame will seek to impress during the show as well as Tira who has spent over two years since he last performed in Bulawayo.

Zimbabwe’s hip hop artiste of the moment Cal_Vin who has done a track Zikhuphan’ with Nyovest will be part of the Zimbabwean artistes.

The others are Khuxman, Mzoe 7, Defined House, DJs Skaiva, Scooby, Sibago, Liz, Emity Smooth and Leroy.

Now in its fourth edition, Kalawa Homecoming Party is reported to have attracted about 7,000 last year, which saw Oskido, Berita, Brics, Mdu Masilela, Uhuru, Jah Seed, Zola, Alaska, Buffalo Souljah and Vanessa Sibanda perform. Other artistes who have performed over the years include Professor, Character, DJ Zinhle, Winnie Khumalo, the late Brown Dash, Busiswa, Madluputhu, Nokwazi and Candy.