KADOMA is set for a major international music showdown in October, with Jamaican dancehall star Beenie Man and Congolese rhumba heavyweight Awilo Longomba set to headline the Kadoma Music Festival alongside a star-studded cast of Zimbabwean performers.
The festival will bring together three distinct musical traditions, with local giants Winky D, Alick Macheso, Feli Nandi, Selmor Mtukudzi and Sulumani Chimbetu sharing the stage with the two continental and Caribbean heavyweights.
Also on the line-up are Jnr Spragga and Chill Master.
The appearance of Beenie Man and Awilo is expected to add a strong nostalgic appeal to the festival, particularly for fans who grew up during the late 1990s and 2000s when their music dominated Zimbabwean radio stations, parties and social gatherings.
Awilo remains a household name among Zimbabwean rhumba lovers, with his energetic performances and dance-driven hits having made him a regular fixture on African music stages.
Beenie Man, meanwhile, represents an era when Jamaican dancehall enjoyed a massive following in Zimbabwe, with his music helping shape the tastes of a generation of local fans.
Local dancehall star Winky D is expected to be among the biggest attractions on the bill.
The Gafa has continued to command large audiences with his distinctive fusion of dancehall, reggae and socially conscious lyrics, while his reputation as a high-energy performer has made him one of Zimbabwe’s leading festival acts.
Winky D also brings considerable experience of sharing stages with international stars, including Jamaican dancehall figures Beenie Man, Bounty Killer and Popcaan.
His inclusion is expected to strengthen the festival’s cross-border appeal and provide a link between Zimbabwe’s contemporary dancehall movement and the Jamaican tradition that influenced it.
“Winky D brings that bridge between Jamaican dancehall and Zimbabwean culture,” an organiser said.
“His presence guarantees the youth turnout and adds serious weight to the local bill. When he performs, the whole venue becomes one voice.”
The festival will also offer a strong representation of Zimbabwe’s diverse musical heritage, with Macheso bringing his popular sungura sound, while Feli Nandi, Selmor and Chimbetu add different contemporary and traditional influences to the programme.
The event follows last year’s edition, which featured Jamaican performers Busy Signal and Christopher Martin.
Organisers are now hoping to build on that international flavour by bringing together performers with established audiences across different generations.
The combination of Jamaican dancehall, Congolese rhumba and Zimbabwean music is expected to make the Kadoma festival one of the country’s major entertainment events in October, while giving the city another opportunity to establish itself as a destination for large-scale live shows.
