China-Sponsored Dreamstar Showcase Elevates Young Zimbabwean Talent

Dreamstar Zimbabwe’s ninth season concludes with a dynamic China-sponsored finale in Harare (image source)

Harare — The ninth season of Dreamstar Zimbabwe, a China-sponsored national talent showcase, concluded on Friday night in a packed Harare theatre, where 17 artiste groups competed for top honours in an event organisers say merges performance opportunity with deepening cultural exchange. Hosted by the Zimbabwe Jacaranda Culture and Media Corporation (JCMC) in partnership with the China-Zimbabwe Exchange Centre, the finale followed months of nationwide auditions covering music, dance, opera, magic and other creative disciplines. Three acts walked away with top prizes, which included cash awards, JCMC recording deals and all-expenses-paid cultural tours to China.

Pandazz Dance Hub, a seven-member Harare dance collective, won the fan-favourite title after delivering a high-energy routine that drew loud acclaim from judges and the live audience. Founder Shadreck Moyo hailed the win as a historic breakthrough for dancers in the competition. “It’s an amazing feeling. This is the first time that a dance crew has won Dreamstar. It is a dream come true,” he said, adding that the China tour will expose the group to international stages and expand their professional networks.

Organisers emphasised that Dreamstar is designed as both a talent competition and a development pipeline. Zhao Ke, founder of Dreamstar and director of the China-Zimbabwe Exchange Centre, said the programme is intended to uncover performers in communities with limited creative platforms and to transform raw talent into viable careers. “Lots of Zimbabwean people have talents in arts and culture, but they do not have a platform to showcase their talents,” Zhao said. Since 2014, the initiative has helped propel emerging artistes into the national spotlight.

Roughly 300 Zimbabwean youths have travelled to China through Dreamstar’s cultural-exchange programmes, with some beneficiaries receiving scholarships for further study. Liu Bing, a Chinese participant who made the top 10 in the inaugural 2014 season, said the show has grown into a celebrated fixture. “Compared to 2014, the local response is now very strong. It’s similar to some of the most popular events in China right now,” Liu said, noting that the platform has strengthened cultural ties and provided valuable learning experiences.

Sponsorship from Chinese enterprises has been central to the programme’s expansion. Zhao Zhanyu, a board member of China Railway No. 9 Engineering Group (Zimbabwe) — a key sponsor of this year’s finale — told Xinhua the event enables Chinese companies to support Zimbabwean creativity and foster people-to-people exchange. “On the stage, the sincere connections between the two peoples have overcome barriers of language,” Zhao Zhanyu said, pledging continued involvement in cultural initiatives that promote bilateral friendship.

Industry stakeholders praised Dreamstar for helping to professionalise the creative sector. Promoters and producers at the event highlighted the value of mentorship, studio access and exposure to regional markets — all essential for turning visibility into sustainable artistic careers.

Still, cultural advocates urged organisers to pair high-profile showcases with long-term support structures, including transparent selection processes, follow-up training and clear monetisation pathways. Recommendations included seed grants, ongoing recording support and structured touring opportunities to ensure winners can fully leverage their exposure. Organisers said plans are underway to institutionalise Dreamstar as a permanent annual fixture with stronger local partnerships and an alumni network to track long-term outcomes.

For now, the ninth-season finale demonstrated the power of platforms and partnerships in elevating Zimbabwean talent to audiences at home and abroad — a reminder that with sustained investment, the country’s creative potential can continue to grow.