HARARE - Several of Zimbabwe’s hot new music talents have been given the platform to showcase their prowess during the Harare International Festival of Arts (Hifa) which begins this month end.

Running under the theme “What’s Next…” Africa’s leading festival Hifa has decided to let loose the next generation of Zimbabwean music stars who include ZBC 2012 “Video of the Year” winner Blessing “Flem B” Manyangadze, 2012 “Coca-Cola Radio Zimbabwe Top 50” winner Jah Prayzah and the hip-hop duo Tehn Diamond and Junior Brown.

Flem B, whose musical performance at last month’s Christ Embassy Higher Life Conference in South Africa won him rave reviews, is excited by the endorsement by Hifa.

“I feel so honoured to be part of Hifa 2013”, said the upcoming star.

“It will be my first time and I will give my best.

“I thank God for giving  me yet another platform or maybe let me say for affording me this opportunity to minister his word to a huge mass of people from different religions, tribes and countries at the same time.

“I am so excited and overwhelmed with this because I am going to win souls for Jesus on the day. I know by God’s grace my music will touch lives of whoever will listen to my music. It will not be about me on that day, it will be about Jesus.

“So I really cannot wait to let the Lord use me through song and bless his people,” he said.

Since winning the “ZBC 2012 Video of the Year”, Flem B has been on a roll. His two albums Dunamis and Handidzokere Kumba, which carry 17 songs each, have “anointed” him as a potential gospel great.

Jah Prayzah, who is currently riding on his latest album Tsviriyo, is happy to have been afforded the chance to make a debut appearance at this year’s Hifa.

“I am really excited to be part of Hifa since it is a very big platform for the arts,” said the Gochi Gochi singer.

“It is a new platform for me. I am sure every artiste wishes to perform there so that makes me very happy. I am very happy.”

Hifa will this year welcome yet again hip-hop star Tehn Diamond, a young artiste who is making a name for himself in a big way in the local music industry. The hip-hop upstart will be gracing Hifa for the third time this year.

“It is very exciting for me to perform there again for the third time.

“More than that it is a humbling experience to have upcoming Zimbabwean hip-hop artistes get a prominent slot on the biggest stage of the calendar year. Harare is in for some magic,” he said.

Other youthful artistes in this year’s Hifa line-up include National Arts Merit Awards (Nama) multiple winner Suluman Chimbetu, Selmor Mtukudzi, Roki, Mokoomba, Junior Brown, Munya Mataruse, Adiona, Sniper, Judgement Yard, Reverb 7 and Blackbird.