SUNGURA musician Alick Macheso will be setting the pace for bigger things to come at Padziva Leisure Centre when he makes his maiden performance at the joint next Saturday.
Padziva is an outdoor entertainment and leisure centre, with a cocktail of amenities like braai, kids’ play area, car wash and a big screen, located on the western part of Harare along Kirkman Road.
It is one of the transformed de facto al fresco entertainment joints trending in the city that have taken over from traditional beer outlets.
Since its inception, the management at Padziva, in partnership with local entertainment hub Jive Zimbabwe, has facilitated the seeding of an innovative culture within the joint.
Padziva is famed for the #OneBigParty — a family event that is held on the last Saturday of every month, bringing artistes, businesspeople and entrepreneurs together.
However, Macheso’s performance at the joint is a precursor to what the organisers, Jive Zimbabwe, believe are better things to come.
“Macheso is setting the pace for a lot of things to come at Padziva Leisure Centre,” said Jive Zimbabwe director Benjamin Nyandoro.
“We are heading towards the festive season and we feel it is important to begin these gigs with big names like Macheso.”
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Nyandoro said the show was one of a series of gigs that Padziva has lined up ahead of the festive season.
“We are creating a blissful moment ahead of the festive season for our clients and by inviting Macheso we are setting the pace,” he said.
“Going forward Padziva will host top local and regional groups.”
Nyandoro confirmed that after Macheso, the joint would host Leonard Zhakata and Paradzai Messi in a move that is meant to “support local talent”.
“Our thrust as Jive Zimbabwe has been supporting local talent and we believe that Padziva is the right platform to do so,” he said.
“We hope to bring more local talent to the joint and we are hoping to even bring foreigners to perform at Padziva.”
Apart from the gigs under the #OneBigParty banner, Padziva is famed for the #BoyzCanCook — a movement of men and women, particularly men who proactively join the ongoing gender activism, dismissing the notion that women belong to the “kitchen”.
A few months before the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic the joint had introduced a unique concept called #HamaYomukadzi, which was held on Africa Day.
The joint continues to walk along the innovative path, introducing unique ideas, but the #OneBigParty concept has taken the entertainment scene by storm.
“The #OneBigParty is the signature brand for Padziva, hence its popularity,” Nyandoro said.
“We have many other themes, but the #OneBigParty stands out.”
A recent show at the joint featuring Killer T and Andy Muridzo was sold out, thanks to the collaboration between Jive Zimbabwe and cigarette company Pacific Cigarette Company.
