TAWANDA CHARI
The Jah Prayzah Xperience at Forest Farm was exactly what its name promised. An immersive celebration of music, style and community, headlined by Zimbabwe's greatest showman at the peak of his powers.
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| Jah Prayzah doing what he does best as he performs at Forest Farm [Image: ZimSphere/Tawanda Chari] |
Set against the picturesque backdrop of Forest Farm, the venue proved to be the perfect canvas for the event's Bohemian Chic theme. Nestled among the trees, the setting felt intimate yet grand, with attendees embracing the dress code wholeheartedly. It was a spectacle of fashion, music and culture, with people arriving dressed to impress, adding another layer to an already beautiful atmosphere.
Probeatz and Fusion 5 got the afternoon underway even though l missed them. I got positive feedback from those that experienced them. I arrived just in time for Shaku Chante taking over the decks around 4pm. with a set that felt like it was pulled straight from the heart of the local scene. Walking in as she took over was to be greeted with a seamless blend of Takura's Vendor into Sunday by Mugaratia, a mix that had this Pemurai Dzose faithful thoroughly satisfied. She kept the local flavour running through Jnr Spragga, Exq's Nzenza, Nutty O's Pane Acharuza and Delroy Shewe's Fenze, setting a distinctly homegrown tone for the late afternoon before Mary Anibal went on stage.
Mary Anibal followed with a breathtaking vocal performance with some traditional dance in between, pouring every ounce of emotion into her set and reminding everyone why she is regarded as one of Zimbabwe's finest live vocalists.
Wowrae, a percussionist by trade, brought something different. House and amapiano built around his live percussion. It served as the perfect palate cleanser between a lineup of contemporary performances, adding a fresh dynamic to the evening while keeping the energy flowing.
Sylent Nqo's set threw up one of the more baffling moments of the day. Not because of anything he did, but because of how many people around me genuinely didn't know who he was or at least his songs. That's remarkable for an artist with one of the biggest songs in Zimbabwe over the past year, a single that went triple gold, and a run of hits since — Denga, Huya, and now Sewe, which has been a smash both as a song and as a video, tearing through TikTok, Instagram and Facebook. I ended up playing tour guide for a few people, pulling up videos and talking them through his catalogue mid set. I only caught the last ten minutes or so myself, including a 'Huya' rendition that was pitch perfect, but it confirmed what I already knew: Sylent Nqo delivers every time he performs. For a bohemian, blanket-and-wine kind of event like the Jah Prayzah Xperience, he was a perfect addition to the lineup. And it showed. Bar the few minutes I was busy educating, the rest of crowd sang every word back to him.
Then came Feli Nandi, who delivered one of the night's standout performances. Seeing her behind the drum kit was an unexpected but welcome surprise, showcasing yet another dimension of her artistry. What had begun as a relaxed, laid back evening suddenly burst into life as she got the crowd onto their feet with a polished and commanding performance.
Beyond the music, the event excelled in the finer details. The bar service, courtesy of Miller's, was exceptional. Staff were knowledgeable, attentive and took the time to explain the different offerings, ensuring guests enjoyed a premium experience from start to finish.
Then it was time for the man everyone had come to experience.For 90 exhilarating minutes, Jah Prayzah reminded everyone why he remains Zimbabwe's premier live performer. Opening with Tenda from his 2023 album Chiremerera and closing with the customary Goto, he guided fans through a catalogue of hits that has defined more than a decade of Zimbabwean music.
One of the evening's defining moments came during Ruzhowa, where Jah Prayzah barely needed to sing a word as fans passionately delivered every lyric back to him, word for word. It was a powerful reminder that you might think you love Jah Prayzah until you find yourself surrounded by people who truly love Jah Prayzah.
The setlist travelled effortlessly through different eras of his career. Classics like Dzamutsana transported fans back to the Chitubu days, while Necessary kept the momentum high from the latest releases. The reworked version of Chiremerera, arguably an even stronger rendition than the original, was another highlight of the night. Manja and Bvumbamira sparked some of the loudest reactions of the evening, sending the audience into a frenzy for such relatively mellow songs
As always, Jah Prayzah looked every bit the superstar, stepping onto the stage impeccably dressed, his trademark elegance matching the grandeur of the production around him.
The Jah Prayzah Xperience was a masterclass in live entertainment, where the venue, production, supporting acts, atmosphere and headline performance combined to create something genuinely memorable.
Zimbabwe's greatest ever showman has done it again. And nothing will ever stop him from doing it again and again and again. He lives up to the name!
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