Regional Music Crossroads Competition hosts finals this weekend

ZIMBABWE’S preparations for the regional Music Crossroads Competition get to the finer stages this weekend as the country hosts national finals to select representatives to the talent search show.

Fourteen groups from all the country’s provinces square up for tickets to the regional festival at the finals to be held at Harare Gardens this Saturday.

The regional contest is slated for Malawi between August 7 and 10.

From Midlands and Masvingo provinces comes African Destiny and Soul Panorama while Blessed Assurance, Taku & True Bantu and Gwarimba represent Harare and Chitungwiza.

Sungura outfit Iron Stars and the Paradisers will represent Mashonaland Central and West respectively.

Bulawayo, Matabeleland North and South will be represented by Koomboka Stars, ATJ, Rhythm Africa and Mega Stars.

Representatives for Mashonaland East and Manicaland will be Muza and Dapurahunanzva.

Only the top two groups from the local competition will make it to the regional level.

The regional edition will see groups from Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania battling for the coveted six-month European tour in store for the winner.

 The second position at regional level will be awarded a two-month Swedish tour while the group that comes out third will win a ticket to participate at a week-long Annual Ethno Festival in Sweden.

Matthius Bangure, the national co-ordinator of the programme, said all was now in place for the national finals.

"The provincial finals went on very well and we are proud to say that competition was even stiffer this year, which means groups at grassroots level are improving.

"It also means that there will be tight competition at the national finals, but we have selected experienced adjudicators and the best group will win.

"We encourage people to come and witness this event, which is free of charge and starting in the afternoon. The programme has come up with fine musicians in the past. We have the likes of First Farai, Progress Chipfumo, Bongo Love and Ihawu Lesizwe, who are the programme’s products.

"It is our hope that the group that wins this year’s final and even those that have come from the provinces realise their dreams on the local music industry," said Bangure.

He added that some outstanding groups from provincial finals that had not made it to the national final were selected and would be given chances to record their music.

Their project, which will be recorded at Afrimune Records, will be titled Songs for Life, which is this year’s Music Crossroads theme.

The groups that were selected for the project include Inkabazwe Rukuvhuto Stars and The Leaf from Midlands.

The Friends and Jean from Harare and Chitungwiza made it. Rainbow Blaze and The Say Band were chosen at recent Bulawayo and Matabeleland provincial finals. East Land and Buccaneers were selected from Mutare.