Beaven Dhliwayo
Group Features Editor
Dreamstar Zimbabwe has promised its biggest and most ambitious grand finale yet as the talent search celebrates its 10th anniversary, with organisers unveiling an enhanced production that they say will redefine live entertainment while preparing young Zimbabwean artists for international careers.
Speaking during a press conference ahead of the Season 10 grand finale, Dreamstar organisers said this year’s edition would combine world-class production, mentorship and cultural exchange to create a platform capable of producing globally competitive performers.
Technical Director Tashinga Wesley Madzamba said the competition had evolved beyond being a singing contest into a comprehensive entertainment production designed to showcase Zimbabwean talent on a global stage.
“Our vision goes far beyond simply producing another singing competition. Our goal is to create immersive worlds that allow every finalist to tell their story in a way that is memorable, emotional and world-class,” Madzamba said.
He said every performance had been meticulously designed using advanced lighting, LED screens, sound engineering, visual effects and creative direction to ensure audiences experienced more than music.
“We do not want audiences to remember only who sang the highest note or danced the fastest. We want them to remember the moments, the atmosphere, the emotion and the complete production. We want Dreamstar Season 10 to be remembered as a show that raised the standard of live entertainment in Zimbabwe,” he said.
Madzamba said organisers were deliberately exposing contestants to professional production environments to prepare them for opportunities beyond Zimbabwe.
“Success in today’s entertainment industry requires much more than talent. Artists need to understand stage awareness, working with cameras, performing with lighting, engaging live audiences and adapting to complex production environments,” he said.
“That is why Dreamstar is committed to producing complete performers.”
Dreamstar Zimbabwe is organised by the China-Zimbabwe Exchange Centre and managed by Jacaranda Culture Media Corporation.
Managing Director Walter Chanaka said the competition had become one of Zimbabwe’s most influential talent development platforms since its launch in 2015.
“In 2015, a visionary, Mr Zhao Ke, planted a seed driven by his passion for Zimbabwean art and culture. Today, Dreamstar has grown into a fundamental pillar of Zimbabwe’s arts industry,” Chanaka said.
He said more than 5,000 artists had passed through the competition over the past decade, with several successful musicians and performers launching their careers through the platform.
“Household names like Nyasha David, Fusion Five Mangwiro, Mwenje Mathole, Probeats, Suhn and many more all trace a crucial chapter of their journey back to the Dreamstar stage. They came as hopefuls and left as stars,” he said.
Nyamukondiwa said the initiative had expanded beyond talent identification to include education and international cultural exchange.
He said the China-Zimbabwe Exchange Centre had facilitated scholarships for Zimbabwean artists to study in China while creating opportunities for performers to participate in international cultural events.
“This year, we are sending a troop of 30 talented individuals to perform on a grand stage in China. This is cultural diplomacy in action,” he said.
“We aren’t just building artists; we are building future leaders.”
He added that the organisation intended to grow Dreamstar into one of Africa’s leading entertainment brands.
“Our aim is audacious: we want to grow Dreamstar until it reaches the monumental influence of a brand like Idols, touching every corner of the nation and influencing millions,” Chanaka said.
Creative Director Mongameli Dlamini, who previously competed in Dreamstar as a dancer in 2016, said his personal journey reflected the competition’s long-term impact on young creatives.
“I stood on that very stage as a dancer for the Supergeeks Dance Crew from Bulawayo. I never imagined that years later I would return, not just watching the next generation of talent, but guiding their artistic expression from behind the scenes,” Dlamini said.
He said the Season 10 finalists represented a diverse blend of Afro Fusion, Hip Hop, Pop, R&B and ballads, with performances incorporating Zimbabwean cultural elements alongside contemporary global influences.
“We are not just creating movement; we are sculpting performers,” Dlamini said.
“Our creative challenge is to fuse these genres with theatrical flair while celebrating our Zimbabwean culture, our heritage, and our identity as Africans.”
Dlamini said Dreamstar’s role extended beyond the finale by equipping participants with professional skills and networks to sustain careers in the creative industry.
“Dreamstar is a launchpad. It is a catalyst for opportunity. The exposure, the training and the network you build here can open doors you never even knew existed,” he said.
The organisers said the Season 10 grand finale, scheduled for August 15 at Harare’s 7 Arts Theatre, will feature current finalists performing alongside celebrated Dreamstar alumni in what they described as a symbolic passing of the torch between established and emerging artists.