By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
Afro-fusion group — Afro Pulse — who recently won Chibuku Road To Fame (CRTF) Masvingo provincial finals believe hard work and practice finally paid off.
The eight-member group which was formed in 2024 won the top spot beating most Sungura and Zim dancehall groups.
“We were different from other group because we captured the diverse audience because of the genre of music that we performed. It appealed to the wider cross-over audience,” Thomas Mungozi, the band manager said.
He said now that they won the provincial finals, they were now eyeing for the national finals scheduled later this year.
“Although we won we are hoping to perfect our act because there are one or two loophles which we want to cover so that we do even better at the national finals,” Mungozi said.
Afro Pulse from Masvingo and Mnenga Band from Manicaland province impressed at the provincial competitions, each walking away with US$2,500 in prize money.
In the Manicaland province, Watsomba Stars, Sungura came in second, winning US$1,500, while ASG Band, a Traditional music outfit secured third place and a US$1,000 prize.
Meanwhile, in Masvingo, the Afro Fusion group Afro Beatz finished second, and Doctors Band, a Rhumba Afro took third place.
This year’s competition marks a bold return for Chibuku Road to Fame — and it’s bigger, better, and more unforgettable than ever, celebrating 25 years of discovering Zimbabwe’s musical talent.
Launched in partnership with the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ), CRTF has grown beyond a mere talent search. It has become a national cultural movement, providing a vital platform for emerging artists to shine.
“This platform is not only about the music,” said Irimayi Muzorewa, Marketing Director of Delta Corporation. “It’s built on the backbone of uplifting the arts and empowering upcoming artists.”
From humble township stages to packed provincial venues, CRTF has helped launch the careers of many artists who are now household names. And in 2025, the competition is set to honour its musical legacy in style.
The 2025 edition of CRTF features exciting new changes, making this jubilee celebration one for the books. Running from August 23rd to October 4th, the festival embraces the theme:
“25 Years of Discovering Talent.”
“To make the competition even more exciting, the provincial finals have been combined into six events featuring 20 groups in total,” revealed Muzorewa.
Each provincial event will name its top three winners, who will earn a golden ticket to the National Grand Finale — where the top 10 acts will compete for fame, national recognition, and a significant cash prize.
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