Makhadzi strikes gold in BW

The sensational singer is returning for a one-woman show at Aria Stadium in March in an event that is expected to generate over a P1 million

GAZETTE REPORTER

For past decades, there has been a music genre or artist who dominated the airwaves and hoarded the headlines for festival due to their popularity and stagecraft. It has been a period of different genres and artists such as Chicco Twala with his ‘bubblegum,’ Authur Mafokate and his kwaito, the late HHP with his motswako hits, and then amapiano that seemed destined to calim all attention.
However, along came ‘Queen Makhadzi’ ‘s Limpopo province who became a show-stopping sensation as soon as she arrived on the scene just before the advent of COVID-19. She has been dropping hit after hit and win heart after heart among Batswana just west of native land, witness how Makhadzi has been headlining major events throughout the festive season just passing.
After cashing in on a string of shows across Botswana last month and seeing her massive following, the 25-year-old sensation recently announced in her social media accounts that she will be staging a one-woman show in Botswana on March 26. “I have decided to do my own one-woman show in Botswana, Gaborone,” she wrote. “I will take my 10 percent of my profit and donate it to charity in Botswana, (sic)” wrote Makhadzi.
This is an event similar to Casper Nyovest’s Fill Up events that usually attract crowds in the region of 15 000 plus. However, maximum the capacity of the venue, Royal Aria Stadium, is 10 000. If well attended, the event should generate produce over a million pula because the cheapest ticket goes for P200 while the most expensive is P1 500.
At the age of 25, Mkhadzi has struck gold in Botswana through her hits such as Ghanama, Murahu, Dikuku and Red Card which are mostly sung in her TshiVenda Language that most people in Botswana do not understand but those do not But it shares a mutual intelligibility with Ikalanga because both languages belong to the Shona group. Most of Makhadzi’s songs have over a million views, which demonstrates her relevance as an artist and explains why she is headlining major events in the country.
Consistency is another factor that has fuelled her success. Over the past two years, she has consistently released songs in short order of each other without diminishing her peculiar flavor. But news of Makhadzi staging an event here has not gone down well among sections of her legion of fans in South Africa who feel she is now prioritising Botswana to her fellow South Africans.
“Market research clearly shows that she is one of the most relevant artists and is in great demand. Market demand directs us to her and we eventually bring her over,” said veteran music promoter Gilbert Seagile who is among those who have had Makhadzi at the top at festivals and is involved in organising her one-woman at Royal Aria Stadium in Tlokweng in March.
Seagile added that in view of COVID 19 protocols, they will make sure that they will work on limiting numbers to her Aria show in order to ensure a safe environment for revellers. Though billed a one-woman show, Makhadzi will be backed by several local and international artists such as Scar, Slizer, Vee Mampeezy and Casper Nyovest, all of whom identify as friends of Makhadzi.