^ Antics of the King. Alick Maches on on Stage at HIFA

Having seen Alick Macheso perform live many times before, I did not expect anything new at his HIFA show, but I went because I wanted to do this story- and I’m glad I did. The King of Sungura did things to and with his guitar that reaffirmed his status as thus.

His was the first show I’ve seen at HIFA where even before it began the crowd was up on its feet screaming.

When he finally stepped on to the African Sun Main Stage shortly after 2pm the euphoria was almost tangible. Security personnel struggled to control the throng that pushed to try and get closer to the stage.

^ Gumbo pa Guitar. Macheso shows off his guitar skills.

Though not totally packed, the tickets for the show were said to be sold out.

Around me local and international members of the press jostled for photographic positions as Alick Macheso started playing his guitar with hand and elbow, then hand and forehead- AND! then with hand and shoe-clad-foot.

The response from the crowd can only be described as sheer mass ecstasy. One girl in the front row was literally screaming her head off. A woman with a baby on her back was dancing away in total oblivion to the world around her. Three little boys of about six showed off their dance skills with amazing verve.

^ The Crowd responds.

For one and a half hours the thrill of Macheso, known in entertainment venues far and wide around Zimbabwe, reverberated through the Harare Gardens.

This was his first appearance at HIFA. For many years various quarters in the arts industry have called for more mainstream Zimbabwean artists to feature at the annual festival. News that Alick Macheso would be featuring this year was greeted positively by many.

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Anonymous   |2009-05-03 15:54:41 Macheso ane Chipo Dhewa vanr Chido.Macheso you rock boss usanyeperwe nana murondatsimba ava. Reply 2   0

Zigamba raGiribheti  - Ndanyarara zvangu   |2009-05-07 10:55:00 vasikana muriko here uko-o!!!!!tsverebu dzvikiti tsverebu dzvikiti. Bheu- murume akaoma uyu. idhara Tongai Moyo angadai achindigonera kudai aine identity pamuzik yake. Zvino nhasi akahwa kuhi Macheso woridza zvodobi dobi otevedzera, mangwana oimba rhumba, kuswera mangwana house, the next day mbakumba. zvino hapana competition Reply 0   0

lami   |2009-05-09 07:15:49 ko Cheso mdharaka ndezve chipo kwete zvesgungu an out and out and complete etertainer and perfomer par excellence Reply 0   0

dembure Nobby  - Mr   |2009-08-21 09:19:45 Macheso remains one of the few great musians that erupted in the history of Zimbabwean music who many will remember for long and cherish his work and great artstry ability,next to none so far in Zimbabwe.He joins in the stream of legendary musians such as Dembo,Mapfumo,Simon Chimbetu,Oliver Mutukudzi and a few others,but Macheso id distinct in that he is multi-talented.He can dance,and in this case he originated and internationalise borrodale dance, he initiated the slow motion dance and now its highly likely he will still come up with another form in future, He is a good composer of songs that brings a very good commentary about social life and, above all, he can produce unique sounds in the way he loves with the guitar. No one else have ever reached the starndad of guitar prowess set but Macheso in the History of all life. He also changed the face of sungura music in Zimbabwe as evidenced but the fact that most musians n... Reply 0   1

wiseman  - mr   |2009-12-08 11:12:35 alick macheso is unmatched in terms of his composition,guitar wizardry,stage perfomance,lyrical content and above all the total package.i have had the priviledge of watching tongai and alick live on stage for a couple of times,sorry to say guys alick is more superior than tongai.i happen to like tongai's music but as for macheso i love his music.for the record tongai moyo doesn't play sungura,he immitates barura and for such he can't be given the title of king of sungura.''macheso will rule until jesus comes'',so i said, Reply 1   0

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