The Herald
By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
26 March 2010
From big names in music to the hot faces of the small screens, from businesspeople to top Government officials, all walked on the red carpet rolled out at the Crowne Plaza Monomotapa Hotel for the Celebrity Dinner Dance on Thursday night.
Given the glitter and the glamour that characterises overseas events graced by “filthy rich celebs” one could be forgiven for thinking that such was a preserve of Hollywood stars.
While that might well be true due to Hollywood’s megabucks, however, that does not necessarily follow in Zimbabwe. It was a night to remember as Zimbabwe’s A-listers made their way into the Great Indaba Room, the venue of the fundraising dinner dance hosted by the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe.
You could have been anywhere in Harare but if you were not part of the audience at the dinner dance, then you don’t know what you missed.
It was an experience to cherish and for once, musicians, comedians, poets, filmmakers, actors and actresses took time off their busy schedules and converged under one roof.
Such a rare gathering brought some fond memories when artists gathered to share not just food but even jokes over a glass of wine.
You could tell that there is unity among Zimbabwe’s celebrities — or is it public figures? — as some of them exchanged numbers while others posed for photographs for posterity.
Some of the celebrities were star-struck and cheered among themselves whenever the master of ceremonies Lovemore Banda introduced a late comer. Banda simply rose to the occasion making sure the programme was flawless.
However, most of the celebrities turned up early for the dinner, which was something of a rare spectacle.
If anything, Zimbabwe’s celebrities know how to dress for the occasion.
The first couple of gospel and elegantly dressed Baba naMai Charamba were seated on the same table as the Education, Sport, Arts and Culture Minister David Coltart, Dr Thokozile Chitepo, who was re-appointed the chairperson of the NACZ board and Dr Stephen Mahere, the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture.
Other celebrities included Zimbabwe Tourism Authority executive, Gift Chidzidzi and his wife Tabitha was at the same table as Fungisai Zvakavapano-Mashavave and her beau Courage, actress Chipo “Eve” Bizure and hubby Kashweka Mapanda.
Of course, the delectable Eve admitted the “storm was finally over” following rocky times in her marriage.
Theatre practitioner Daves Guzha, popular drama actor and author Aaron Chiundura Moyo and ballet dancer Mathius Julius and Jerusarema drummer Douglas Vambe also graced the dinner dance. As usual, businessman-cum-musician Prince Tendai was at his best showing how much swag he has. He emerged from his Mercedes Benz S350 and was quickly whisked into the venue by the ushers.
Somewhere at the back of the venue were Wallace Chirumiko popularly known as Winky D, stage theatre actress Eunice Tava as well as man-of-the moment, Desmond “Stunner” Chideme.
Winky D received special mention from the emcee for his eye-catching white suit, red shirt and matching woollen hat. Thank God, Stunner showed up nicely dressed in a grey suit and a black shirt something that was different from his usual baggy jeans, T-shirts and caps.
Stand-up comedian Edgar Langeveldt, with wife Raquel, was slightly beside himself as the couple was on separation for months.
Langeveldt donned a black tuxedo and a fedora hat just like his late idol Michael Jackson.
Of course, the dinner dance would not have been complete without Langeveldt’s theatrics. His rendition of the song Heal the World which he titled “Heal My Nose” sent the crowd including Minister Coltart into gusts of laughter.
In the song Langeveldt poked fun at the reports that Michael Jackson’s nose once popped out.
The chorus went something like this:
Heal my nose,
Make it a better face for you and for me and the entire human face.
There are people blogging, Hi-Five, You Tube and Facebook
Heal my nose
Bass guitarist Alick Macheso and his wife Nyadzisai who has a ‘big bump’ on her tummy turned heads as they arrived rather late for the dinner dance. However, they made it in time for introductions as well as the opening speech.
This time around Macheso did not suffer from wardrobe malfunction. He even had a fresh haircut and his grey suit went well with his wife’s long but colourful dress. However, the red wine bottle was three quarters full; maybe Macheso is not a big fan of red wine or that he was seated on the same table as Delta Beverages officials who kept the waiters busy.
Suluman Chimbetu was immaculately dressed in a designer grey suit and necktie while songstress Prudence Katomeni-Mbofana wore a traditional black haute courture dress. Afro-jazz diva Dudu Manhenga also sent the audience in stitches when she introduced some of her band members including her drummer and husband Blessing Mparutsa and his cousin and bass guitarist James Buzuzu.
She jokingly said she was married to her band as a way of keeping it intact.
“The band has been with me for a long time because I decided to marry them. It is easy to work with the people who are close to you,” she said.
Like Prudence, Dudu wore a nice traditional sleeveless outfit.
Acclaimed sculptor Dominic Benhura and one of his two wives were seated in front on the same table as Her Excellency, Gladys Kokorwe, the Ambassador of Botswana.
The Botswana Embassy was one of the sponsors of the event. Other sponsors included Econet Wireless, FBC Bank, Portnet and Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe.
Highlights of the evening included a performance by Dudu and the Colour Blue in which Prudence joined her on stage. The two divas serenaded the audience into the night after some lovely dessert of fresh fruit salad or cake.
“I’m singing for my supper now and I want to see everybody on the dance floor,” Prudence said before belting a yesteryear hit song by the late James Chimombe.
Later, Macheso and Suluman — who laced their vocals over a lingering jazz beat — joined the divas. It was interesting to see Minister Coltart leading the celebrities on the dance floor sweating it out like never before.
Ambassador Kokorwe also showed a thing or two on the dance floor while Benhura who said he had never danced in the past 10 years did so with verve and pride.
The food was tasty and the music was good and the party continued with everyone singing and dancing.
As this was a fundraising dinner dance, there were four sculptures that were auctioned including one by Benhura titled “Welcome” that was sold for US$320. About US$1 000 was raised at the auction. The auctioneer did a splendid job to entice bidders.
The dinner dance sought to raise money to enable the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe to start a revolving fund, which will be given as grants or loans to upcoming artists.
Minister Coltart thanked the NACZ for taking the initiative to identify and nurture talent saying the arts were important in branding Zimbabwe.
Dr Chitepo also reiterated the good work done by the NACZ in championing the arts in Zimbabwe.