Online Reporter
Arts Reporter
AFTER spending much of the festive season performing together, Alick Macheso and Somandla “Mafia” Ndebele are simply unstoppable. They are jelling and rolling! Call it a roller-coaster!
The sungura stalwarts will officially kick off their 2025 showbiz calendar with a double-header at Warren Park Council Bar in Harare tonight.
Although Macheso featured at last week’s Swan Valley International Cigarettes launch at Rufaro, tonight’s event serves as the official opener for the new year.
This performance marks his first show of 2025, and according to his management, fans can expect fireworks.
As has become the norm, Macheso is set to deliver a captivating selection of both classic hits and new tracks.
According to event organisers, Macheso’s music was anticipated to uplift fans after the dreaded January blues.
With the backing of Ndebele, who has been in the game since 1989, it will be a night of first-rate sungura from Zimbabwe’s living legends.
Show organiser and Warren Park Council Bar joint proprietor, Danny Chiku, who has hosted Macheso before, was anticipating a big show.
“As hosts and event organisers, we can only expect a successful show for sungura lovers in Harare and its environs.
“The groundwork has been laid to ensure that we host Macheso and his counterpart Somandla Ndebele.
“These guys are showbiz veterans, and those itching for mature music from living legends should come through and watch them live on stage,” he said.
Chiku was excited to be associated with the two big brands – Macheso and Ndebele.
“We last hosted the Macheso brand at our venue sometime last year in March, and we had a full house at the event.
“This time around, he is returning alongside Soma, which is a big boost for us. We all know what these two are capable of offering, and fans should come out in numbers and enjoy themselves under one roof in Warren Park,” he said.
Similar sentiments were echoed by Ndebele, who has formed a strong alliance with Macheso.
“It’s a blessing to be sharing the stage with Baba Sharo (Macheso) once again because it will be a night of legends under one roof.
“We started this partnership in 2023, but it was last year that we held a series of live shows together, much to the delight of our fans.
“The fans thoroughly enjoyed our combination wherever we performed, and it will be great news once again as the partnership continues,” he said.
Reflecting on their combination and vision, Ndebele hailed Macheso’s management for making the partnership possible.
“I would like to thank Macheso’s handlers who have expressed their willingness to work with us, and we are determined to work together, as shown by how we applied ourselves on stage.
“There are also more shows lined up in the coming weeks where we will be sharing the stage with Macheso. It’s a plus for us at the Denda Brothers camp because we are also exposing our fans to big crowds. Every show is a true testimony of new fans gained, while some of our old fans are also coming back due to this combination, which has created variety,” he stressed.
Macheso’s publicist, Tichaona Makahamadze, told The Herald Arts that they are now geared up for the new season after taking a deserved rest. “We are coming off holiday, but we don’t have the rust because we have been rehearsing,” bragged Makahamadze.
“The Warren Park show alongside Soma is our first official gig of 2025 as we roll out our calendar. We gave fans time to recover from the January expenses caused by overspending during the festive season, and some of our fans had school fees to cater for this month.
“It means that we had to give them time to recover, and now that it’s month-end, this is the appropriate time for us to be back in action, starting in Harare.”
“For the greater part of last year, we have been touring with other living legends, and Soma is one of the yesteryear stars who has made our job easier,” said Makahamadze.
Meanwhile, Macheso will hold his second show of the weekend in Kotwa, Mudzi District, tomorrow.
“Our next show at Kotwa Leisure Centre will be 100 percent Orchestra Mberikwazvo.
“We won’t have a supporting act at this show, but we want to give fans in that part of Zimbabwe a taste of our music. It’s a show not to be missed, and we want to cater to every part of Zimbabwe,” he stressed.
