By Tongi Mbirimi
On 2 March 2012, Zahara did her Debut concert in Harare courtesy of May 7 Entertainment a promotions company owned by my good friend and everyone`s uncle
Max Mugaba. My role was very simple, to make sure Zahara and band accommodation & meals were in order.
I was also overally in-charge of the concert from a venue management side and was in constant liaison with the promoter Uncle Max. Now, I had watched Zahara on DStv and learnt that Zahara released her debut album Loliwe in 2011 and It went Platinum in 13 days and double platinum after just 17 days, selling over 100,000 copies in South Africa.
We were so excited to accommodate Zahara and her Debut Concert in Zimbabwe and we really went all out, gave her the best suite, and made sure she was comfortable in Harare. Interestingly our hotel became her home whenever she came to Harare, her tech rider would include accommodation at our hotel as a prerequisite.
This was one of the best concerts I attended and Harare turned up, ladies dressed to the nines for South African songstress Zahara’s debut concert. I remember well there were also fans from Zambia and Malawi who came for that gig. To explain the impact Zahara had on the Zimbabwe music scene, in that year alone she held 3 different concerts in Harare, and all were sold out, Harare loved Zahara.
For me sharing these Stories is a powerful tool that can foster connection and understanding while creating greater affinity towards a culture or place.
As we continue to lure the world to our beautiful country in these trying times, we have to explore non-traditional partnerships as a source of driving arrivals.
Mayday Mayday, May 7 Entertainment, we are in May 2021, when Covid-19 has been tamed by the vaccine, please ignite our stage with a good gig
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