HARARE - New Year’s Eve will be one to remember for the dancehall fans as they will mark the beginning of 2013 with Jamaican superstar Popcaan.

The Clarks hitmaker will arrive in Zimbabwe on December 29 and will give a performance on New Year’s Eve at the Harare International Conference Centre (HICC).

The organisers of the show, C and A Entertainment are billing it as the dancehall gig of the year.

“We are hoping that this will be the dancehall gig of the year,” said Clint Robinson, the representative of the show promoters.

“We are having the best of the local dancehall artistes performing. Previously we have had about 10 or more supporting musicians but this time we chose Winky D, Ricky Fire, Guspy Warrior, Dadza D and Mic Inity.

“I believe these artistes represent the Zimbabwe reggae/ragga industry and they will do justice,” he said.
Robinson revealed that the Jamaican dancehall artiste will jet into the country with a delegation of five other people, but was not sure if Popcaan will play with a live band.

“I paid for six tickets but I cannot say if it is a band or not. What I can tell you is that he is not coming by himself.”

Popcaan took to the entertainment scene under the wing of fellow Gaza Group member Vybez Kartel.

“It is the first time that we are bringing big artistes from the Gaza Empire. You know they have two groups there the Gaza and Alliance and Popcaan is the first we will give to the people. I know many people will be excited.

“The reason why we did not make much noise about Popcaan is that we did not want people to lose interest. I am using a different marketing approach whereby we advertise a few weeks before; it will be on people’s lips and won’t be forgotten,” he said.

In 2011, Popcaan received the Excellence in Music and Entertainment (EME) Award for Best New Artiste and Collaboration of the Year for Clarks with Vybz Kartel and Gaza Slim. Clarks also won the award for Song of the Year — Dancehall.

Robinson added that Popcaan is much more than a dancehall artiste.

“He is a crossover artiste as he appeals to people from different social backgrounds. For masalad, ghetto youths he can cater for and I am sure it will be a good gig”.

C and A Entertainment, for the first time, will be partnering with Chipaz Promotions for the show.

“Chipaz is a big promoter for the local shows and I believe I am also big in terms of bringing in international stars.”

Popcaan’s songs include Fry Yiy, Badmind a Kill Dem, She A Gwaan Good, Coolie Gal, The System, Diss Mi Friend, Ravin, Party Shot and others.

The promoters have lined up DJs like Mighty Ducks, Garry B, Ash Styles, Barry B, Luwa Luwa, Smiley and Epherton B to play on the same bill.