Harare — THE forthcoming apostolic music festival is likely to be a clash of the titans, as Nama award-winning choral group Mabasa Evatumwa has confirmed participation in the second such gala in as many years.

The apostolic music gala will be held on March 20 in the Harare Gardens.

That Mabasa Evatumwa managed to win the award with just one album to their name is enough proof that competition in the genre is getting stiffer by the year. Previously Vabati Vevhangeri used to rule the roost, with such songs as Gare Gare, commonly known as Job Aikwenya.

This year's gala comes against the backdrop of a successful one held last year at the same venue where songs like Pandimire (Pakaoma) had the full house swirling around, in typical apostolic style dancing. The forthcoming apostolic music festival will feature various apostolic groups such as Vabati vaJehova, Vabati veVhangeri, Chiedza Chevatendi and Vabvuwi.

Mai Chibgape, whose voice is a common feature of most of the groups, will add spice to the whole festival as she will be helping most of the groups that come to stage. Although she is a member of Vabati Vevhangeri, she has featured for several of these apostolic groups, more recently for Vakatumwa World Gospel.

The apostolic music festival also comes hard on the heels of a memorial musical festival held in Mhondoro to remember the life and times of Timothy Magaya, one of the founding members of Vabati Vevhangeri, who was tragically killed in a road traffic accident last December.

Mabasa Evatumwa group member Alois Kurima said they will take out time on the day of the festival to remember, not only the Magaya family who have lost loved ones, but all those who have passed away in the past year.

"It will not only be a musical festival, it will be time for ministry as well and we will be praying for those who are not feeling well, to be touched by the hand of God."

Kurima promised fans to expect material from their forthcoming album. The group also promised to launch their seven-track DVD for their first album on or before the day of the gala.

The group, which hails from Mhondoro, is expected in the studio over the weekend to polish up songs for its second album in preparation for the upcoming gala.

"Despite that our group consists of members from various denominations, we managed to scoop an award during the recent Nama awards and we urge our fans to come out in their numbers," said Mr Kurima.

He went on to explain that the group intends not only to spread the gospel but also to raise awareness on social problems especially the Aids scourge which has ravaged society. They intend to achieve this through inspirational songs like Chikara, Usacheme and many others

Kurima also pointed out that the invitation extended to them by the organisers of the function shows their growing popularity and also inspires them to tour the country for live performances with Vabati vaJehovah

Another group that will also be in attendance at the gala is Vakatumwa World Gospel, a new kid on the block that has only a single album under its belt. The album was recorded at Metro Studios, and features Mrs Chibgape of Vabati veVhangeri. The Avondale-based group recently held a function in Highfield for a charity that looks after the handicap-ped.

The group fuses their music with other genres to appeal to a wider audience and they also promised to unleash new dances that fans have never seen in previous shows.

They have promised their fans new stuff from their upcoming album and also encouraged their fans to offer them support at the gala.