The Sunday News
Leonard Ncube, Victoria Falls Reporter
Bulawayo’s top choral gospel music group Vocal Extra-Ordinaire has been invited to perform at the 2020 Eddy Awards in United States of America.
Founded by Thembelani Mdlaziba in 2013, the 30-member youthful group will become the only group from outside USA and the first from Africa to grace the annual event. Mdlaziba said they got the invitation after Eddy Awards Scouts spotted them online after they posted a Resound cover song which captured the organisers’ attention.
The Eddy Awards is the only nationally televised award show for independent artistes to be broadcast on Impact Television Network and is organised annually to celebrate spirited pioneers who bring unique sound and vision to the independent music community, merging inspirational and gospel community artistes.
The trip is scheduled for next month with the ceremony set for Jacksonville Florida from 20 to 23 February. The group is also seeking assistance to meet part of the expenses.
“We’re supposed to go for the 2020 Eddy Awards in Florida from 20 to 23 February and we’re still waiting for the outcome of our visa applications. Performing at the Eddy Awards would be a milestone and being extended such an invite is testimony of hard work. It’s both humbling and encouraging to perform at such an international stage and we really thank God for his Grace. We are also seeking assistance from corporates and individuals as there is a component of the trip that we have to fund ourselves, although all expenses that side will be met by the organisers ,” said Mdlaziba.
This could be a breakthrough for the inter-denominational and youthful outfit better known as Vocal Ex.
The group has been touring the country seeking to herald its entry into the gospel music industry.
Its first album was I live to worship which was released in 2016 and they are marketing Eyethu Indaba ayipheleli lapha, an EP with seven tracks which they released in October last year.
The EP was launched at a live concert attended by over 1 000 people in October at Family of God Church in Bulawayo, which was also the group’s celebration of its fifth year anniversary.
On 21 December they gave a spirited performance in their maiden visit to Victoria Falls in front of about 300 fans at a concert at the AFM church. Vocal Ex has performed in a number of countries including Botswana and# South Africa.
They have also performed at the Gwanda Gospel Show, in Masvingo, Gweru and Harare. The group has been nominated twice on the Bulawayo Arts Awards in 2017 and 2019.
