Bulawayo Gospel Extravaganza: Hits, misses

It was big enough to stroke the egos of the artists. Though the lighting was atrocious at first, Zesa later turned on the power to the relief of the music lovers and the promoters.  Ncandweni  was churning out a rousing performance.  They had the crowd eating out of their hands. They acquitted themselves well as did Buhle (of Ivy Kombo fame), Amos Mphahlele, Xolani and Conquerors who were the bit part players. Then it was time for Sifiso Ncwane as one of the headline acts, to come on.
With tracks such as “Kulungile” “Siyabonga” and “Phakama” for which he won a South African Crown Gospel award for song of the year the hits kept coming. Sifiso finally wound up his business with When God says yes no one can say no a naija influenced ditty. Managed by his wife, the father of two has spent over twelve years in the music business. “I like it when female fans get excited about my husband because for me as his manager that means he is doing something right,” chortled Mrs Ncwane in the middle of selling her husband’s cds to fans who were mobbing the couple. One thing for sure, Sifiso had the audience reeled in. He had them jumping and jiving and it reached fever pitch at one point. Calling his South African counterparts Amos Mphahlele (actually a son of gospel veteran Derrick Nzimande) and Xolani onto stage, Sifiso got down to showcasing their eMzansi dances. “We are coming back again in August,” he shouted to a rapturous audience as he made way for Fungisayi.
Fungisai came onto the stage in full diva effect. She was the last act and that was, I supposed, by her design. Wearing those shoes that ladies wear these days she looked tall. Otherwise the singer is diminunitive in stature. But she rocks. When she came on, the die hard fans were excited as she ran through her catalogue of hits such as “Toita zvekudenga” and “Makomborero”. But by then the crowd had dissipated because some had begun to disperse because the night had worn away. Most of those that attended the Sunday Gospel Extravaganza at Amazulu Stadium appeared to have come from the western surburbs. One Pastor Leo Gumede of Assemblies of God who I asked for his opinion on the show lamented the lack of adequate publicity about the show. “I did not see a single poster by egodini (commuter rank )or elokshini (townships) or at church. I only read about it ephepheni (in the newspaper). The organisers could have come to churches. Otherwise many would have attended. But the music here is very good.” The organisers may have  miscalculated a little in terms of audience targetting and pricing which stood at ten greenbacks per head.
The pre-show promotional thrust seemed to have been aimed at the “monied” classes. Babongile Sikhonjwa of X-MO Squad one of the co-organisers  was somewhat wistful. “The money is gone my brother. But what is important is that whatever crowd came we put up a good show. That’s what counts.”
Ultimately, one thing is clear to my mind: This show should have an encore to be fair. I was there and I can tell you that the acts are bankable. The promoters will have to go to the churches. They may also split the artists for different shows. Sifiso Ncwane’s excursion on the stage on Sunday was for the first time and he left an indelible mark. Fungisayi, without batting an eye lid, told me that she could not imagine a gospel extravaganza without her name! She does indeed have a classy well-choreographed act and if you are liberal like me in music terms, then you would not mind her diva ways and so called gospel swag. And yes she made me a fan because as a true professional she showed out despite the dwindling crowd. She wasn’t grumpy. But she comes off as a real drama queen on stage tossing her hair and all. Perhaps she is not the only prima donna in this gospel music arena since Sifiso Nwane and his entourage ungraciously left in their limousine before seeing Fungisayi’s act. Alas, maybe they were tired and wanted to sleep! There is no business like show business!