Mohalenyane Phakela
MASERU comes to a standstill on Saturday when the mother of all parties, the Vodacom Summa Feva 2016 edition rocks the capital at Setsoto Stadium.
A brainchild of mobile communications giant, Vodacom Lesotho, the annual event gives the company’s loyal customers as well as the general public the opportunity to experience live performances from their favourite local and international music acts.
From its humble beginnings in 2007 at the Maseru Club, the event has grown in leaps and bounds, becoming the most sought after event on the country’s entertainment calendar.
Having realised that an event of this magnitude could not be contained at a small venue and was crying out for a bigger stage, the organisers duly moved it to the Setsoto Stadium in 2014 and it has not looked back since.
Last year’s edition received rave reviews in the international media including coverage on Trace TV as well as South Africa’s Lesedi FM which hailed the event as one of Africa’s biggest festivals in Africa, filling to capacity the Setsoto Stadium with more than 20 000 revelers.
At this year’s edition, top notch performances are expected from some of the region’s finest artistes including the legendary Zimbabwean DJ Oskido, South Africans AKA, Bongz, Speedsta, Shimza, Major League, Dj Fortee, Emtee, A-Reece, DJ Merlon, Shaxe and Lerato Khanyago who will share the stage with several local acts such as Axomind, juvy, L-Tore, Afro DJ, Kot Inferno, Mapanaki, Box Fr3sh, TshepzaDJ, Hunky D, Tybzen and Smooth. Vodacom Superstar 2016 winners Eunice, Thizozo, Reezy Ray and Step Up are all expected to light up the stage. Bloemfontein-based former PCFM’s presenter, Zipompe and Vodacom Superstar 2016 presenter Mr Kaofela who will be the MCs for the night.
Vodacom Lesotho Senior Marketing Specialist, Sekonyela Matamane this week told the Weekender that the festival always aims to provide the best entertainment each year while also exposing talented local acts.
“Every edition’s milestones set our patrons’ expectations higher and this makes it very important for us to prepare an enhanced delivery in every following edition. Booked acts include some of the concert year’s trending performers from Lesotho and beyond,” Matamane said, adding, “With the Vodacom Summa Feva and our other events, we always strive to expose what the country has to offer”.
Award-winning AKA has confirmed his participation with a video posted on Vodacom Lesotho’s Facebook page where he also encouraged fans to buy tickets in order to see him “in HD”.
Matamane also revealed that a compilation disc featuring Vodacom Superstars will be launched at the festival. The compilation features this year’s winners Eunice (Music), Reezy Ray (Female DJ) and Thizozo (Male DJ) with contributions from the runner ups in various editions such as Motseki Le Lesiba, Ts’itso Chalatsi, Axomind, Skebza D, SirNic, KOT Inferno, Mothae, Khotso Thahane and Juvy.
He also explained that they had decided against allowing loaded cooler boxes into the venue on security grounds, adding that they had arranged a number of selling outlets for food and beverages which would be subsidised to make them affordable to revelers.
“Coolers can be used to conceal weapons underneath other contents.
“This (the ban of loaded cooler boxes) is also intended to make the entry process a smooth one with minimal searching effort. Prices for drinks will be at subsidised levels and also the variety of drinks will thrill many a good time lover. We have also prepared effective selling spots to avoid extended queues at the food and drink stalls,” Matamane said.
