Arts Reporter
BULAWAYO is set to take centre stage on January 31 when the inaugural Harris Music Festival comes alive at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair grounds, headlined by chart-topping musician Jah Prayzah in a show expected to draw audiences from across the country.
Organised by Harris Entertainment, the festival brings together established national performers and emerging Bulawayo-based artists and DJs, reflecting a deliberate effort to position the city as a growing hub for live music and creative expression.
Several local DJs have welcomed the opportunity to perform on a major platform, describing the festival as both a career milestone and a chance to showcase their craft to wider audiences.
“I am happy to be one of the DJs selected to play on this day at the big event on January 31. I am so excited, and I am prepared to make you dance to the music I will be playing, so I will be playing Private School Piano going up to Commercial,” DJ Mathabisi Ncube said.
Fellow Bulawayo DJ, Mgcini Ncube, popularly known as DJ Mufali, said the festival represented a rare opportunity for local talent.
“I am excited to get this opportunity to be at the Harris Music Festival, and we thank the opportunity granted us to play on such big stages; it means a lot to us,” he said.
Upcoming musicians from the city will also share the stage with some of the country’s leading artists, a development that has been warmly received by performers eager to expand their reach.
“I will be one of the artists who will perform in Bulawayo at the Harris Music Festival together with Jah Prayzah and Leehleza, and this is a great opportunity for me. I am very excited because for an artist from Bulawayo to share the stage with such big and great artists is a big step,” Sizalobuhle Nkomo said.
Festival organisers said the event was intentionally designed to prioritise local creatives, while blending them with established national and regional acts to create a balanced and inclusive platform.
“As Harris Entertainment, we are a community that works closely with artists and supports Zimbabwean art. This year, we introduced a new initiative, the Harris Music Festival, which is based on supporting local artists. We will have seven artists from Bulawayo and three visiting artists, with Jah Prayzah as the headlining act, supported by Seh Calaz and South African piano artist Leehleza,” said Harris Entertainment Executive Secretary, Silibaziso Dlodlo.
She added that the festival was envisaged as a long-term project aimed at consistently promoting Bulawayo-based talent and strengthening the city’s live entertainment ecosystem.
With strong local representation and a headline act of national stature, the Harris Music Festival is expected to attract music lovers from across Zimbabwe and beyond, further reinforcing Bulawayo’s growing reputation as a centre for nurturing and celebrating musical talent
