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Leonard Ncube Victoria Falls Reporter
AUDITIONS for artistes who will perform at the 21st February Movement Celebrations in Victoria Falls are underway with six groups expected to be selected from the host town.Organisers of the event yesterday said the chosen six would perform at the main celebrations being held at Elephant Hills Resort Golf Course next week Saturday, before an all night gala at Chinotimba Stadium in the evening. They will be joined by other groups and top musicians, like Alick Macheso and Sulumani Chimbetu who are billed to perform.

A total of 12 traditional and imbube music groups including Nsumbule Yechipesu, Idwala Elikhulu, Inkume Arts Company, Black Eagles, Mwedzi Muchena, Simunye, Jongwe Guru, Ubuntu Bomuntu, Umkhankaso Wamajaha, Black Amakhwezi, Kweseka Band and Victoria Falls Nyau Group took to the Chinotimba Hall stage yesterday to fight for slots. They were joined by award winning poet Obert Dube and a group of Chinotimba Pre-School pupils who stole the show with their song Happy Birthday Gushungo.

The bands that were auditioned include seasoned groups such as Chicken Bus, Kweseka Band fronted by Nicholas Marco, Sun Set Cruise, up-and-coming house group Ezemfuleni Dance group led by Velile Vetsokais Moyo, Mafia King, Afro Bongo, Chief Justice Chimoto, Smokey, El Dade, Butterfly and Victoria Falls Express.

The groups’ performances had to factor in the celebrations theme: “Celebrating the birth of Gushungo, the Icon of Zimbabwe’s Revolution and champion of youth empowerment”.

21st February Movement Celebrations head of auditioning team, Walter Moyo said the final bands would be announced this week.

“We’re holding the auditions to come up with artistes who will perform at the main event. They will be announced as soon as the process is complete.

“They’ll be joined by other groups and artistes from other parts of the country,” Moyo said.

Victoria Falls Artistes Assembly chairman Ndabezinhle Sibanda said this was an opportunity for Victoria Falls-based artistes to expose themselves, considering that the celebrations will be graced by people from all walks of life.

“There are many diverse groups here and we’d love the majority of performers to be locals so that they are empowered as well.  We’ve the capacity to perform and all we need is a platform like this one,” said Sibanda.

The 21st February Movement Celebrations are meant to mark President Mugabe’s 91st birthday.