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Zandile Ndlovu

Danisa Masuku, Showbiz Correspondent
SANDRA Ndebele, Samantha Tshuma, Kwabatsha Arts and Mzoe 7 among other talent scouts, have been tasked by the Zimbabwe Championships for Performing Arts (ZICOPA) to identify potential contenders for the World of Championships for Performing Arts taking place in America.

Cited as the only official “Olympics” for aspiring performers, the World Championships of Performing Arts competition seeks to find the best singers, dancers, actors, models, beat boxers and other performing artists. Winning artists will be awarded with $380,000 worth of performing arts scholarships.

In preparation for the world contest, local talent scouts have begun searching for talent in different parts of the country. Auditions, which are open to those aged between 8 to 65 years, will be held in Bulawayo on May 31 to shortlist those who will represent Zimbabwe in America. The competition in Hollywood, America starts on July 7, ending on July 18.

ZICOPA spokesperson Zandile Ndlovu said: “Auditions will be held throughout the country and Zimbabweans in the Diaspora also have an opportunity to participate through registering online at www.zicopa.org.”

“At the auditions, we’ll assess people’s talent and abilities based on the judging criteria of the World Championships of Performing Arts.

From there, we’ll come up with national finalists who’ll compete at the 2016 World Championships of Performing Arts.”

This will be Zimbabwe’s first time to participate in the competition which has more than 63 countries vying for glory.

Ndlovu said the talent scouts had been selected because of their wealth of experience in the arts industry.

“We held a workshop at Bulawayo Polytechnic last week where we chose the likes of Sandra Ndebele, Thulani Dube, Desmond Ntini of Umkhathi, former Miss Zimbabwe Samantha Tshuma, Kwabatsha Arts, vocalist Alaina, Lady Tshawe and Mzoe 7 among 30 others assist us in scouting for talent,” Ndlovu said.

ZICOPA – a talent search organisation – aims to tell a Zimbabwe story to the world.

“Competing at the world showcase will be a great opportunity for Zimbabweans as this will be a platform to share our story with the world. Artists will also be exposed to entertainment gurus in Hollywood,” Ndlovu said.

ZICOPA was formed last year after two South African-based Zimbabweans Jessica Nyarai and Nontokozo Moyo had their children competing at the World of Championships for Performing Arts in America where they represented South Africa. They however felt it was prudent for them to open a Zimbabwe chapter for the global arts event.