VICTORIA - Dendera music star Suluman Chimbetu justified his top billing with an assured debut performance at the Carnival International de Victoria on Saturday.

Playing at the highly rated carnival, which brought together all manner of bands from 26 countries, Sulu and his Orchestra Dendera Kings fitted the billing with minimum fuss.

The dendera artiste and his band, who were Zimbabwe’s representatives in the carnival, performed aboard a truck branded in Zimbabwe colours along a five-kilometre stretch as part of a parade.

Alain St Ange, Seychelles minister of tourism described the carnival as “a melting pot of cultures.”

The Zimbabweans’ well-choreographed dances drew roars of approval from the thousands that lined-up the parade’s colourful route.

After completing the gruelling parade, Sulu then made a 30-minute performance along with other international artistes at Freedom Square.

The 30 000 plus crowd that included Zimbabwe Tourism Authority chief executive Karikoga Kaseke and the permanent secretary in the ministry of Tourism Margaret Sangarwe, watched in awe as the dendera superstar put up a top-class act.

While many in the crowd could not comprehend Shona lyrics of songs Sean Timba and One Way, they responded positively and danced non-stop throughout Sulu’s highly animated showcase.

Sulu and the ZTA will have to wait until later today for them to know if they have come out tops in the Indian Ocean Island’s three-year-old carnival.

ZTA, who along with Reunion co-organised the Carnival International de Victoria, told the Daily News on Saturday evening that they were delighted with Sulu’s carnival performance.

“Sulu put up a scintillating performance,” said ZTA corporate affairs head Sugar Chagonda.

“Sulu and his band are one of the few contemporary groups that performed. We have learnt a lot from this carnival that will help us as we forge ahead with plans to set up an inaugural carnival.”Sulu and band in Seychelles. - Dakarai Mashava in Seychelles