UK Gears Up for Inaugural Africa Music Festival: Zimbabwean Legends Take Center Stage this August
THE FIRST ever United Kingdom (UK)-based Africa Music Festival launch is set for August, featuring Zimbabwe’s top musicians.
Themed ‘The Legends Tour’, the event is scheduled for August 26. Chimurenga Music Guru Thomas Mapfumo, the late Oliver Mutukudzi’s daughter Selmor, award-winning reggae-dancehall artist Winky D, decorated musician Jah Prayzah and gospel diva Mambo Dhuterere are scheduled to headline the event.
Y2K Entertainment Music & Arts Director Alex Marapara told EnterSportNews that there is no such event in the UK dedicated to Africa hence the launch of the Africa Music Festival UK.
“This will be the first of the annual event. We launch with the tried and tested artists and market, but from next year we will have other artists from South, East and West Africa,” he said.
“This year’s theme emphasises the recognition of our Zimbabwean legends, living and fallen.
“That is why Selmor is there for Tuku and Manatsa music dynasty. The theme will change yearly.”
Y2K Entertainment Music recently successfully hosted the SAMA Festival UK 2023. The organisation boasts 23 years of experience promoting Southern African music in the UK.
SAMA Festival UK 2023 was rebranded to cater to the younger generation, which the group hints at with the numbers they got. It was a risk worth taking.
Marapara emphasised that they would like to keep it going and attract the younger generation because they are the future.
“However, the Africa Music Festival UK is more inclusive, and our current targeted market is all Africans,” Marapara said.
“We expect huge attendances and to gain markets from other African countries. We also expect to engage businesses, especially corporates.”
Marapara adds that future expectations are to have international recognition, attract the best African musicians, and continue to share that music and culture.
“We would like to rope in other popular music from America, Jamaica and the UK – to see themselves as a privilege to perform on this festival,” he said.
Preparations for the event started last year and are going smoothly, with the promoters already processing visas, production, and tickets already selling.
Marapara added they have roped in a company from Zimbabwe (Buy Zimbabwe) that brings other corporates.
“We will provide them with gazebos to advertise their products and services at the Festival,” he concluded.
