Gwanzura Stadium will take center stage on Saturday, October 4, 2025, as it hosts the Chibuku Road to Fame National Finals, one of Zimbabwe’s longest-running music talent competitions.
The venue, a historic site in Harare’s Highfield suburb, will welcome thousands of fans and musicians for a day that blends grassroots artistry with a significant industry milestone: the contest’s 25th anniversary.
Organized by Delta Beverages in partnership with the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ), the Road to Fame competition has grown into the country’s premier platform for discovering emerging talent.
Since launching in 2001, it has propelled unknown acts into mainstream recognition, cementing its reputation as both a cultural institution and a pipeline for the music industry.
This year’s edition has drawn provincial winners from across Zimbabwe. So far groups that will take the stage at Gwanzura include:
- Core Vibes (Midlands) – Afro-fusion
- All in One (Mashonaland West) – Afro-fusion
- Simuniziva (Matabeleland North) – Afro-fusion
- Dab Band (Bulawayo) – Afro-fusion
- Bolamba Culture Birds (Matabeleland South) – Traditional Contemporary Music
- Afro Pulse (Masvingo) – Afro-fusion
- Mnenga Band (Manicaland) – Afro-fusion
- Jungle Foxes (Mashonaland East) – Sungura
Harare and Mashonaland Central will complete the finalist lineup this weekend.
The competition’s rewards are substantial. The winning group at the Chibuku Road to Fame National Finals will take home US$15,000 and a recording contract, while the second- and third-place finishers will receive US$10,000 and US$7,000 respectively.
Beyond the financial prizes, the event serves as a launchpad for careers in an industry where platforms to showcase talent remain scarce.
Guest performances from established artists are also expected to complement the finalists’ sets, ensuring a full-day program from 10 a.m. until late.
Choosing Gwanzura as the venue for the Chibuku Road to Fame National Finals carries symbolic weight. The stadium, deeply rooted in Zimbabwe’s cultural and sporting history, situates the competition in a location synonymous with community gatherings and national pride.
For many artists, performing at Gwanzura represents not just exposure, but entry into the country’s cultural memory.
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