Express Entertainment is based in Victoria Falls and was established in 2013 by Paul Shambare better known as Elder Shambare. Our 263Chat Arts Reporter, Munashe Chokodza (MC) had a one on one interview with Shambare (ES) on a wide range of issues from his current and past projects, inspiration and many others. Below are excepts of the interview.
MC: What made you form Express Entertainment?
(ES): As the genre started gaining ground in the country there was demand of professionalism in events management that’s when we registered with the Arts Council of Zimbabwe. That is also coupled by the fact that I personally have a passion in dance-hall music.
MC: Why did you choose the name Express Entertainment?
(ES): Express Entertainment was named after its mother company Express Cargo which does customs clearing and Transport Services, headed by the company director Elder Shambare.
MC: Which music genres do you promote?
(ES): The company was directly involved in the birth and established of the Zimdancehall genre especially in the year 2014
The company staged many shows outside Harare hence it has influence in the spread and domination of the genre in all parts of Zimbabwe and abroad.
MC: In which year was the promotional company formed?
(ES):The company was formed in 2013 and we are one of the promoters who funded and influenced the rise of Zimdancehall genre because at the period of 2013-2014 the genre had not gained so much ground as other shows would not be attended by a lot of people but we kept push up to today.
MC: What was your mission when the company started?
(ES): To support and create employment, so when the company started it created employment for youths around and outside Victoria Falls i.e. designers, sound engineers, producers hence the team grew to build up a company and that was our dream.
MC: Are you a registered promotional company?
(ES): Yes we are because when the genre became so popular and followed there was pressure for us to register as a promotional company ‘Express Entertainment’.
MC: What were your first projects in Zimdancehall?
(ES): We work with Chillspot Records and hosted a lot of their shows with combined efforts with BodySlam records which contributed also to the growth of the Studio financially and morally.
MC: What do you seek to achieve with Express Entertainment?
(ES): Our main is to entertain people in Zimbabwe and help the entertainment business to sustain despite the economic challenges we are experiencing at the moment in Zimbabwe.
The other goal is to search for talent and be able to help them achieve their music careers. We also promote use of different languages in musicians it appeals to all people despite their language. In Matabeleland there are now Zimdancehall artists doing it in different languages.
We have also launched a Fashion Label named EXPRESS WEAR which all sorts of trendy regalia but with our own brand.
MC: How did you manage to change music to business?
(ES): Entertainment is big business and calls for seriousness both from promoters and artists. The love for music in Zimbabwe especially Zimdancehall is increasing and the genre is far from falling.
As a promoter it has taken us to a far better position as we get something out of the shows and it is indeed a lucrative and viable industry apart from entertaining people. Even well-established organizations are putting artists as their brand ambassadors and it does not end there. It is a fact that artists ,producers, promoters ,dancers ,artist handlers and all along the channel are making a living out of music and that is why it ever growing .
We usually have people who do not want to pay admission fees at shows but as long people don’t understand that artists and promoters have basic needs which need financial support from the fans this will bring our business down.
263Chat had a nice time talking to Express Entertainment.
