EENHANA – This month sees the Katima Mulilo based Entertainment and Promotions Company, Skyline Kings launching the first ever Zambezi Summer Festival 2013. The summer festival is being inaugurated on Friday and Saturday December 20 and 21.
According to the Skylines Kings Productions spokesperson, Uzziah Namubeb, the Zambezi Summer Festival 2013 will take place at the much- loved Wooden Bridge Park and Resort Centre bringing together much loved top artists in Namibia, Botswana and Zambia. Uzziah explains that some Namibian top musicians such as Gazza and The Dogg and Katima Mulilo based up-and-coming artists such as Short Khilla, Top Dogg, Koko, Kim and the ever mesmerising Spine and the Green Kids Band will entertain the starved Zambezi region music fans. “Our summer festival will be one of the best ever to happen in the Zambezi Bream Town. The stage is now set for the big event and we assure the people and families from the Zambezi regions to brace up for maximum entertainment,” says Uzziah.
The festival will also see some of the most prominent Namibian and Botswana DJs competing and turning tables to entertain revelers and families. “We have also lined up some top Namibian and Tswana DJs who will be competing to turn their discs during the two nights. We have slated the event during this coming festive season to attract tourists who will be coming and passing through the Zambezi regions since our regions are gateway to the SADC region,” he says
However, they are currently in talks with Gazza, Exit and the The Dogg and once the deal is done these artists will be expected to rock and headline the event as leading Namibian artists and from Zambia, Sulu, the former and popular Big Brother Africa – the Chase 2013 is billed to perform at the inauguration of the Zambezi Summer festival 2013 although his agent is still to confirm with the festival organisers. “Sulu is yet to confirm but we have also lined up some top DJs from Namibia as well as Botswana. DJ Siya Siyaya from the Mnathi Fela Productions and Team Distant from Botswana are among the DJs being line up for the gig and expected to attract more than 500 revellers and families. Our festival will close that gap, which has affected Katima Mulilo revellers for so many years. We have also noticed a gap in the market, which is the need to host this summer festival,” Uzziah says. The organisers say that the selection of the artists for this first edition of the Zambezi Summer Festival has been entirely up to the Zambezi regions’ fans. The celebrity musicians were chosen on the basis of the suggestions from the fans across the Zambezi regions. “We have been running a slot and short progamme every morning on NBC’s Silozi radio language service where we accord the fans the opportunity to choose the artists to headline the launch of Zambezi Summer Festival 2013 through the popular NBC’s Silozi radio Presenter, DJ Mkankara,” explains Uzziah.
“The Zambezi fans are spoilt for choice ranging from the Gazza, The Dogg, Exit and Sulu. The summer festival will be held under the theme Celebrating Life, Music and Freedom – Katima Mulilo like it was going back to hey days of disco music from the 1970s, 1980s and the 1990s collection with DJs hired for the event. Uzziah says the launch and inauguration of the Zambezi Summer Festival 2013 seeks to bring together talents from the Zambezi region even those from Windhoek celebrating what the region has achieved in the arts industry.
Short Khilla who has since released his second album, Zintu Zonse Nji Yes, was in ecstasy and says he can’t wait for the festival. He promises his fans fireworks and hopes to learn a few tricks from the Gazza and Mshasho and Sulu as gurus in the industry. “I will be sharing the stage with Sulu and our own Gazza and Mshasho so I would like to assure my fans the best ever on the stage as I will be coming in as a curtain raiser,” he assures
The festival will feature some exciting onsite activities such as inflatable water slides and jumping castles, swimming pool for kids, Braai and festive food outlets, beverage outlets, live music performances, volley ball and fireworks exhibition during the official opening and closing ceremony. The event will also see the inauguration and launch of Miss Zambezi Beauty Pageant 2013.
Tickets for festival goers and revellers will be available at Compu-ticket and Shoprite outlets countrywide and they are N$ 30 in advance and N $ 50 for two days in advance and N $ 150 for VIPs.
For more information about the Zambezi Summer Festival 2013, fans and revellers should contact Skyline Kings Production team, Uzziah Namubeb and Poniso Lifasi on the following numbers respectively, +264 81 375 2374 and +264 218 2227.
By Clemence Tashaya