HARARE - Several Zimbabwean gospel artistes will participate in the inaugural Afripraise Concert to take place in the United Kingdom (UK), Canada and the United States of America within the next two months.
The concert, jointly organised by ZimPraise and United Kingdom-based Gospel Nation, will feature ZimPraise, Takesure Zamar Ncube, Tembalami Praise, England-based Muyiwa, Riversongz, Mkhululi Bhebhe and other musicians in the UK.
Tendai Zhou, Zimpraise’s public relations officer, told the Daily News the concert would also feature praise and worship artistes from South Africa and Nigeria.
“It is a joint initiative of ZimPraise and Gospel Nation that will translate into several high-profile praise and worship concerts,” said Zhou.
“We will be in England in the first week of August after which we will perform in Scotland.
“In September, we will take the Afripraise Concert to the United States of America and Canada.”
Zhou said artistes taking part in the Afripraise Concert were chosen on the basis of their appeal to Zimbabwean communities in the Diaspora.
The ZimPraise spokesperson also revealed that the popular praise and worship choir would only use a small fraction of its over 130 members.
“Due to the obvious huge costs involved, we cannot accommodate everyone. Our members take turns to go on international tours.
“That is how we have always operated. This time only 25 people will be travelling,” he said.
Blessed Kapeza, a spokesperson of Gospel Nation, a gospel music promotion company, said his organisation is relishing its involvement in the forthcoming series of concerts.
“We are talking of top quality venues, a top class set-up, chart-topping artistes with their anointed voices and top class musicians on instruments. This is the cream of cream events the UK has ever experienced,” said Kapeza.
“There will be a competitive line-up of artistes from Zimbabwe’s best-selling gospel group ZimPraise Choir accompanied by the South Africa-based Zimbabwean Mkhululi Bhebhe who is also part of South Africa’s biggest gospel music group Joyous Celebration,” he said.
The concert organisers have also roped in several artistes who have made a name for themselves in the United Kingdom.
“There will also be Rhema Praise who sings with ZCC Mbungo Stars.Obert Mazivisa, who has been representing Zimbabwe well in the UK with the backing of The Trumpet Echoes and is expected to minister to gospel music fans through inspirational songs,” said the Gospel Nation representative.