The Music Crossroads Academy Zimbabwe has done it again,
producing an outstanding band. If there’s anything the MCAZ is famed for, is the ability to identify and nurture young musical talent.
This time, it is the eight-member male ensemble Olama Hearts that have raised the MCAZ’s banner high, by winning the provincial Chibuku Road to Fame competition.
On Saturday 15 October in Harare’s high-density suburb, Ruwa, ten of the province’s finest, met to battle for a grand prize of US$500 and a slot in the national finals. Amongst the competing bands, three were products of the MCAZ.
These are Vedu – an all-female band that’s quickly making its mark in the local scene, Afro Jam – a group that has existed for the last four years since its inception in 2013 at the MCAZ and Olama Hearts – the talented winners. It was a stiff competition between several bands that showed to be well prepared for the main stage.
Special mention is given to one of the competition contenders, Naka Sugar from Ruwa, a group that plays the local music genre called Sungura. Needless to say, since they performed on the home ground, they were the crowd favorites.
Afro jam also dazzled the fans with their well-choreographed moves and splendid costumes. Dzivarengwena were serious contenders as well, with outstanding vocal arrangements.
And last but not least, was Vedu who received a standing ovation after their performance giving a good account of themselves in the male-dominated fiesta.
Olama Hearts managed to shrug off the competition with an outstanding performance only fit for the world stage. The emotion-packed performance drove multiple reactions from the audience; at one point it was singing along to the anthem of the day Ndowuriwo, at another, deafening silence for the storytelling act in Ngoma dzonaka, and then, it danced energetically to Varikumatenga. Finally, at the climax of the performance, tears rolled down to the heart-rending song Mwana wemusango.
The celebrity panel of judges formed by the producer and former guitarist of Oliver Mutukudzi, Clive “Mono” Mukundu, the globe-trotter and dub-poet Albert Nyathi as well as the female bass maestro Edith “WeUtonga” Katiji who couldn’t find the words to describe Olama’s performance.
The band members of Olama Hearts expressed their gratitude to the MCAZ staff and fellow students who helped with the preparations. The delighted Director of Music Crossroads Academy Zimbabwe, Melody Zambuko, said this was just the beginning of great things to come for Olama if they remained humble, focused and diligent.
She was also filled with praise by the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe and by Delta Beverages, the organizer, and sponsor respectively.
“Such initiatives help alleviate poverty amongst the country’s talented youth by launching their professional careers.”
This means back to the rehearsal room for Olama Hearts under the watchful eye of their MCAZ mentors to prepare for the grand finale set for the 30th of September. Here, Zimbabwe’s “crème de la crème” will battle it out for a whooping cash price as well as a recording contract with one of the country’s leading labels.
