Congolese rhumba supremo, Koffi Olomide, is expected in the country today for the African Explosion Gig set for Kadoma Odyssey Hotel on Saturday.
The rhumba stalwart touches down at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport around lunch time.
His arrival, two days before the mammoth musical extravaganza, is set to heighten the euphoria already created by the gig.
Koffi will share the stage with top South African pop duo, Mafikizolo, along with Zimbabwean star, Jah Prayzah.
To add variety, event organisers have included dendera crooner Suluman “Sulu” Chimbetu, diva Tamy Moyo and talented Zimdancehall chanter Enzo Ishall, in what promises to be an explosive affair.
The show, which has seen a number of corporates partnering Odyssey Entertainment, will see gates opening at 3pm.
Top wheel-spinners are set to warm the stage before curtain raisers Sulu, Enzo and Tamy take to the stage around 7pm.
Among the corporates on board the African Explosion team are Booties Pharmacies, Eat n Lick, Star FM, Gateway Stream, NBS and Allytrans Luxury.
Speaking to The Herald Arts, show coordinator Prince Mharadze hailed corporate partnerships, saying that was how major concerts were put together worldwide.
He said NBS was helping them handle the local currency aspect of the payments in order not to disenfranchise anyone who wished to be part of the massive Kadoma gig.
Mharadze said the way tickets were being bought at various centres around the country showed that the concert would be attended by people from every corner of Zimbabwe.
“As you know, we have partners all over Zimbabwe where tickets are being sold from,” he said.
“So far, the map that is emerging is that we have people coming from every part of this country and that is very encouraging.
“We have artistes with big entourages who will be staying here in Kadoma. Plus, we already know, based on previous events, that there are about 1 500 to 2 000 people that travel from Harare for our events here in Kadoma.
“If just a fraction of those people decide to find accommodation locally then there will be no place left for anybody else.”
This is not the first time Odyssey Hotel is hosting an event of this magnitude.
Last year, the venue hosted an oversubscribed event, the Kadoma Music Festival, which was headlined by Makhadzi and Jah Prayzah.
Previously, the venue also played host to the late Oliver Mtukudzi and Mafikizolo in another blockbuster event which underlined Odyssey Hotel and its proprietor Tich Mharadze as big players in Zimbabwe’s showbiz industry.
The combination of Koffi Olomide, Mafikizolo and Jah Prayzah in this latest potpourri of music genres for the African Explosion concert is no mere coincidence.
Koffi, a celebrated France-based Congolese singer, has a collaboration with talented songwriter, singer and producer Rockford “Roki” Josphats, which was a runaway success both on the charts and the club scene.
Besides that, Koffi is also trending on the continent and worldwide with his recent collabo with Tanzanian superstar Diamond Platinum.
This is on top of his yesteryear hits which an entire generation grew up dancing to on Christmas, birthday parties, weddings and other important holidays and gatherings.
Koffi and his 20 or so dancers always bring something new to the stage, and this Saturday will be no different.
And then there is Mafikizolo.
This duo from South Africa has dazzled audiences in Zimbabwe several times in many different venues for close to a decade.
Mafikizolo arrive in the country on Saturday morning.
The African Explosion concert will be their second show at Odyssey Hotel having performed there in 2017.
They have collaborated with Jah Prayzah on songs “Sendekera” and “Mazuva Akanaka”, songs which always get the crowds going whenever they are performed.
The diverse line-up of performers for the African Explosion concert has the potential to attract a full house.
