WITH two days left before Christmas Day, many urban residents might have retreated to their rural homes to spend time with their families.
Christmas Day is a holiday observed annually on December 25, to commemorate the birth of Jesus, a central figure in Christianity.
For those who subscribe to the day, Christmas is usually marked by partying and merrymaking. People also get to share gifts.
NewsDay Weekender caught up with some of the local celebrities who reflected on the fading year and their Christmas plans.
Multi-award-winning singer Jah Prayzah
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It was a good year in 2023. We launched our two albums in May, and we had a couple of successful events in and outside of Zimbabwe.
We are hoping to carry that momentum into 2024. Christmas is upon us and the year is coming to an end. We have events to celebrate with the fans during the festive season.
On Christmas Day, we have a family event at Pakare Paye in Norton and we close off the year in Gweru with a performance at Milan Family Restaurant.
We hope to see our fans in numbers and celebrate what the year has been as we set to enter 2024 in style.
Gospel singer Tafadzwa Mukaro
I stand amazed that we have come to the end of 2023. I feel like it ended so fast. I am, however, grateful for being kept by God. It was a challenging period, as we worked hard to keep things going.
However, the favour of the Lord granted us the divine blessings of good health and provision. I look forward to the new year, a brand new opportunity to preach and spread the word of God through music.
I will take a short break over the Christmas holiday to celebrate Christmas with my parents in Tsvingwe, Mutare. I will also be performing during the crossover night as we usher in the new year. Many thanks to all who continue to support my music. I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a prosperous new year.
Filmmaker Eddie “Nzou” Ndhlovu
They say life is a rollercoaster, full of ups and downs. The year 2023 has certainly been a wild ride, filled with challenges and setbacks.
However, amid the chaos, it provided me with an invaluable opportunity for self-reflection. I discovered that I am not merely a filmmaker, but a powerful influencer, touching the lives of countless individuals.
This revelation was further amplified by the honour of receiving the prestigious Outstanding Contributor Award at the recently held Zimbabwe Annual Film and Television Awards.
As if that was not enough, I also had the privilege of being involved in the creation of a remarkable television drama called Bundu, which has captivated the audiences this year.
Now, as Christmas approaches once again, it is time for all of us to step away from the relentless demands of work and hectic schedules.
While money may be an essential part of our lives, it pales in comparison to the true essence of Christmas spending cherished moments with family.
There is simply nothing that can replace the joy and warmth that comes from being surrounded by loved ones during this magical season.
It is a feeling that transcends material possessions and fills our hearts with pure bliss. So let us embrace this extraordinary time, for in the end, it is the irreplaceable bond of family that reigns supreme and brings us the greatest fulfillment.
Songbird Pah Chihera
My year was quite challenging and I had to face those challenges and learn new ways of doing things. I also had to rely on resilience and adaptability to get through it.
On the other hand, it was a bit rewarding as I have achieved a few things; tiny steps and small wins. So, it has been a year of challenges, but also inspiring, redefining and transformative.
This Christmas, I have decided to make it a special moment and memorable one. I shall be spending the holiday with my family. I am looking forward to this.
Award-winning jazz singer Josh Meck
Well, 2023 has been a good year for me as I managed to achieve a lot. I won the Zimbabwe Music Awards’ Best Jazz Award, had a successful tour of South Africa and was featured on SABC as the headline artist.
So, for me it has been quite a good year. For Christmas, I have some performances lined up, but not too many. I will have time for my family.
Neo-Soul songbird Adiona Maboreke-Chidzonga
This year was a trying one. It put a lot of us in flight or fight mode, but if you are reading this, you, like me, chose to fight. Well done to us.
Through God’s grace, a new year is on the horizon. I will be spending Christmas with my family in the scenic sereness of the Inyanga mountains. I simply cannot wait.
Renowned multi-instrumentalist-cum-producer Clive “Mono” Mukundu
In 2023, the arts industry experienced a challenging period due to financial difficulties and it is believed that the situation was influenced by it being an election year.
This resulted in over 10 prominent music producers leaving for the diaspora to engage in manual labour.
However, there is optimism that 2024 will bring about improvements. As the Christmas season approaches, we plan to take a brief hiatus and enjoy quality time with our loved ones.
Arts administrator and renowned poet Albert Nyathi
The year was okay in terms of the arts. I saw quite a few productions in theatre, music and dance.
I also saw a few up-and-coming artists, a notable one is Calvin Mangena from Bulawayo who has collaborated with Feli Nandi. It is encouraging to see all these young stars coming up, surfacing from nowhere, you know, suddenly you are impressed. There are quite a few young stars that came up in the music scene.
Award-winning scriptwriter Amanda Ranganawa
The year 2023 has been the best for me. I am extremely grateful. This year, I managed to launch a historical film premiere of my movie Depth of Emotions in Mutare.
I did several productions with ZBC TV and Trumak Media.
Personally, I upgraded my life, bought my first car, renovated our family home and received a Business Award, among other achievements. It feels good. Hopefully 2024 will be more amazing.
Afro-jazz musician Selmor Mtukudzi
This year has been great. We are so grateful to God that we managed to achieve most of the goals we had set for ourselves and we are looking forward to 2024. We will be working on Christmas and will only celebrate in January.
We have planned a holiday in January.
Afro-fusion musician Aggabu Nyabinde
2023 was an interesting year. Our industry is still recovering from the hibernation caused by COVID-19 and some spending patterns have changed.
I am happy our fans are supporting our music and attending our shows. I am currently working on an album titled Honai, to be released early next year. For the Christmas holiday, we will be entertaining revellers at Holiday Inn, Mutare, and this is a chance for our fans in the Eastern Highlands to come and enjoy our live act.