The final chapter of the Chibuku Road to Fame 2025 provincial finals unfolded this past weekend at Whitehouse in Harare, where the last two provinces Harare and Mashonaland Central crowned their champions.
With these results, the lineup for the national finals at Gwanzura Stadium on October 4 is now complete.
In Harare, Chitima Band secured first place with their Afro-fusion performance, while Khaya Lami Band, also an Afro-fusion group, took second. Rimi Band rounded off the top three.
Mashonaland Central also leaned heavily toward Afro-fusion in a tightly contested competition. D.N.A Band claimed top honours, followed by Shanda Band in second. Mt Darwin Stars Band, representing the Sungura genre, finished third.
The provincial competions carried prizes of US$2,500 for the winner, with outfits finishing second and third, collecting US$1,500 and US$1,000 respectively.
With all provincial rounds concluded, attention now shifts to Gwanzura, where finalists from across Zimbabwe will compete for the US$15,000 top prize and a recording contract.
The second- and third-placed acts will receive US$10,000 and US$7,000 respectively.
This year’s competition marking its 25th anniversary has highlighted the growing prominence of Afro-fusion as a dominant genre, with winners from nearly every province excelling in the style.
At the same time, Sungura, traditional, and contemporary acts continue to bring diversity to the stage, ensuring a wide spectrum of Zimbabwean music is represented.
Organised by Delta Beverages in partnership with the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ), Chibuku Road to Fame has established itself as the country’s premier grassroots music platform since 2001.
The new format introduced in 2025 consolidating provincial contests into six larger regional events has amplified competition, ensuring only the strongest contenders advance to the national stage.
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