Feli Nandi’s historic HICC live recording
Afro-soul star Feli Nandi is set to stage a landmark live recording concert at the Harare International Conference Centre (HICC) on Friday, 14 August 2026.
Billed as ‘A Night with Feli Nandi Vol. 9’, the event forms part of an ambitious campaign by the award-winning musician to fill the venue.
The HICC, with its expansive 5,000-seat capacity, is widely considered a benchmark venue for artists in Zimbabwe’s music industry.
It has historically hosted leading international stars and the nation’s most established musical icons.
Now, Feli Nandi is stepping onto this prestigious stage, seeking to firmly cement her status as one of the country’s leading female artists.
The event, running under the theme ‘A Night with Feli – Fill Up HICC,’ is not a standard gig.
It is a full live recording designed to permanently capture the energy and scale of her rapidly growing domestic fanbase.
By aiming for a capacity crowd, she is following in the footsteps of a select few local performers who have managed to successfully pack the iconic auditorium.
The cultural significance of the arena show
The ‘Fill Up’ concept has become a significant cultural phenomenon in Southern Africa over the last decade.
It signifies an artist’s transition from standard club venues to major arenas, demonstrating both their commercial viability and their ability to mobilise massive crowds independently.
For female artists in Zimbabwe, achieving this milestone is particularly noteworthy, given the historical dominance of male performers in the arena-scale concert space.
Feli Nandi’s attempt to fill the iconic venue is therefore being watched closely by industry analysts as a potential watershed moment for the local arts sector.
Ticket strategy and accessibility
To ensure a large audience for the live recording, organisers Gateway Stream Media have structured a tiered ticketing system alongside several targeted promotional discounts.
Standard entry is priced at US$10, while VIP access is set at US$30. However, in a bid to make the event highly accessible, the promoters have introduced two major ticket reductions.
The most notable initiative is a heavily discounted student ticket. Tickets are available for just US$5 to anyone who can present a valid student identification card at the point of purchase.
This initiative targets the younger demographic, particularly university and college students within the capital, who form a substantial block of Feli Nandi’s digital streaming audience but often face barriers to attending high-profile events due to rising living costs.
Furthermore, the Feli Nandi brand has struck a corporate partnership with MWOS FC. This collaboration allows fans to secure standard entry for US$8 by purchasing selected items at participating MWOS branches.
The MWOS partnership, in particular, represents a growing trend in the Zimbabwean arts sector where corporate entities collaborate with musicians to underwrite ticket costs, thus subsidising the entertainment experience for the general public.
Elton Kurima, a manager at Gateway Stream Media, stated that these aggressive promotional strategies were specifically designed to remove financial barriers.
The goal, he explained, is to ensure that long-term supporters of the artist are not priced out of the historic show.
“This concert belongs to the fans who have supported Feli Nandi throughout her journey,” Kurima said.
“We wanted to remove barriers and create affordable opportunities for more people to experience this historic occasion. Whether through our partnership with MWOS FC or the student ticket promotion, we are inviting every music lover to be part of a night that will be remembered for years to come.”
He added that the promotions are expected to dramatically boost attendance as the organisers pursue their campaign.
“Our goal is to fill the HICC and create an atmosphere worthy of a live recording of this magnitude,” he noted.
“These promotions are our way of giving back to the fans while ensuring that no one misses this milestone in Zimbabwean music.”
The rise of a solo star
The upcoming concert marks a major milestone for the artist, born Felistus Winnie Chipendo.
She began her career in the music industry as a backing vocalist for Mbeu’s Mhodzi Tribe, a position she held for two years.
During her tenure with the band, she honed her stagecraft and recorded several singles, including the track “Ndega Ndada”.
She officially launched her solo career in 2020 and gained national prominence following the release of the hit single “Mufudzi WeMombe”, a highly successful collaboration with local R&B artist Trevor Dongo.
Since then, she has become a consistent presence on local radio and television, releasing widely played singles such as “Munhu Wangu,” “Unotyei,” “Ndoona Iwe,” and “Muranda.”
Her self-titled debut project arrived in 2021, followed by the critically and commercially successful album ‘Izwi’ in May 2022.
The record effectively showcased her distinctive blend of Afro-soul and Afro-fusion.
Drawing inspiration from late traditional music artists such as Oliver Mtukudzi, Thomas Mapfumo, and Chiwoniso Maraire, her sound is characterised by powerful vocals layered over the prominent acoustic beats of conga drums and the traditional mbira.
This unique sonic identity has translated into significant critical success within the regional industry.
Her accolades include the Outstanding Female Musician and the People’s Choice Award at the National Arts Merit Awards (NAMA) in 2024. Furthermore, she secured Best Female Artist and Best Alternative at the Zimbabwe Music Awards (ZIMA) in 2023.
Her influence has also steadily expanded beyond Zimbabwe’s borders.
She has performed at major music events and toured internationally, appearing at Germany’s Moto Moto Festival and the UK’s Zimfest, as well as performing in South Africa, Tanzania, and Togo.
Beyond her musical endeavours, she has established herself as a fashion entrepreneur, launching her own clothing line, Feli Nandi Apparel, in 2021.
What to expect on the night
Because the 14 August concert will be recorded live, attendees can expect a production value designed to capture the expansive nature of the event.
Unlike conventional concerts where the primary objective is immediate entertainment, a live recording demands meticulous planning and execution.
The resulting audio and video content is typically distributed across global streaming platforms, serving as a long-term commercial asset for the artist and introducing Zimbabwean music to an international market.
Gateway Stream Media has confirmed a heavy investment in professional production.
This includes spectacular visual staging, intricate lighting, and enhanced audio engineering designed to properly capture the acoustics and atmosphere of the cavernous arena.
Feli Nandi is recognised for her emotionally charged and highly energetic live performances. Her stage presence is often described by critics as magnetic, combining rich vocals with vibrant, traditional choreography.
To build momentum for the Harare showcase, she has spent recent weeks on a nationwide tour. This initiative has allowed her to connect directly with audiences across Zimbabwe, generating significant anticipation ahead of the HICC date.
Official points of sale
Fans looking to capitalise on the US$5 student promotion must purchase their tickets in person. These heavily discounted options are sold exclusively at two locations: the Rainbow Towers Hotel & Conference Centre and KwaNandi Restaurant.
Standard and VIP tickets can also be purchased at those exclusive venues, as well as at all MedOrange Pharmacy branches across the city. Additionally, digital tickets are available online via the official Gateway Stream Media events portal.
Organisers continue to encourage fans to secure their seats early to take advantage of the limited promotional offers, as excitement builds towards what promises to be one of Zimbabwe’s biggest live music events of the year.
