THE people of the remote Nkayi community will have a different festive season as they play host to the Nkayi Music Festival set for this month.
The two day fete, which will bring musicians from Bulawayo and South Africa together with Nkayi local artistes, will be held at Gonye Shopping Centre on December 29 and in Mateme on December 30.
The organisers said the goal was to create a deeper connection between artistes and their audience, and to give the people of Nkayi a sense of pride and ownership over the music they hear.
Nkayi festival secretary general, Collen Moyo told Standard Style that it’s more than just a concert, it's about creating a new chapter in the history of the town.
“The goal of the festival is to create a sense of pride and ownership among the people of Nkayi, and to encourage them to support their local musicians. Our music tells the story of who we are as a people. It is a window into our culture, our history, and our hopes for the future," Moyo said.
“By bringing our music back to our communities, we are giving them the chance to hear it as it was meant to be heard — in the context of a shared experience, with people we know and love. This is about more than just the music itself, it's about the connections that can be made through shared experiences. It's about bringing people together and building a stronger community. And that's what the festival is all about. “
He said music is a powerful tool for building community, and they believed that this festival can be a catalyst for positive change in Nkayi.
“As artists, we have the responsibility to use our talents to connect with, and uplift our communities. We create music that tells our stories and reflects our cultures, and we have a duty to share that music with the people who are closest to us. It's not enough to make music and share it with the world.
- Nkayi to host music festival
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“We must also bring it back to the people who helped to shape it. That's why we've made it our mission to take our music to the people of Nkayi, and give them a performance that is truly theirs. This is about more than just entertainment; it’s about giving back to the community.
"Music has the ability to bring people together, to create a sense of unity and shared purpose. Through this festival, we hope to create a space where people can come together to celebrate their culture, to share their stories, and to strengthen the bonds that connect them. We believe that by doing so, we can help to create a brighter future for Nkayi.”
In addition Moyo said, “Besides music, there will be prizes to be won and we once did this kind of festival in 2019 at Nkayi Center Junction Stores. It is a replica of what happened sometime back.
“The organisers of the fete are artistes from Nkayi and are based in different parts of the world. Some are in South Africa and others are local. Some of them include Bheki Fuzane, INtombiyabelungu and Precious Diana as the steering committee.”
Various artistes like Bheki Fuzane, INtombiyabelungu, Precious Diana, Collen Moyo, Nqamebomvu, Skhosana Buhlungu, Mxola and Kusile Brothers Band, Inkonjane , The Disciples of Jesus Christ, Memezi Ntini and Great Stars Ijongosi among others will entertain the people during the fete.
